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N 


SACRED  BIOGRAPHY: 

Being   a 

S    E    Q^  U    E    L 

TO    THE  ^/i>0^:  ^/u^^ 

HISTORY   OF  THE    PATRIARCHS, 

I  N     A 

COURSE   OF   LECTURES, 

DELIVERED    AT     THE 

SCOTS   CHURCH,    LONDON  WALL, 

CONTAINING 

The    history    of 

DEBORAH,  RUTH  and  HANNAH. 


By  HENRY  HUNTER,  D.  D. 

Cije  iFirfi  American  Ctiition. 

COMPLETE  IN  SIX  VOLUMES', 

VOL.     VI. 


Jefui  fald  unto  thenif  Verily,  verily,  I  fay  unto  ycu,  Before  Abra- 
ham <iuas,  I  am. John  viii.  58. 

/  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  ending,  faith  the 
Lord,  tuhlch  is,  and  -which  was,  and  'which  is  to  come,  the  Al- 
mighty.  Revelation  i.  8. 


BOSTON : 

PRINTED    BY    MANNING    l^   lORINGy 

For  J.  White,  Thomas  Cff  Andrews,  D.  West,  E.  Larkin, 
J.  West,  and  the  Proprietor  of  the  Bo/lon  Boohjlore, 

»795- 


ADVERTISEMENT, 

1  HE  Hiftolry  of  the  Patriarchs,  from  Adam  to 
Mofes,  inclufively,  in  five  Volumes,  was  all  I  in- 
tended to  give  from  the  Prefs.  The  favourable  re- 
ception with  which  that  Work  has  been  honoured, 
induces  me  to  hope  that  it  may  have  been  ufeful  j 
and  encourages  me  to  comply  with  a  requed  re- 
peatedly made,  that  I  would  publifh,  at  lead,  the 
fubjects  of  this  Volume,  they  having  been  peculiar- 
ly acceptable  from  the  Pulpit.  Being  an  attempt 
to  delineate  the  female  character,  from  real  exam- 
ples, it  may,  perhaps,  have  the  merit  of  intereft 
with  readers  of  that  fex.  And  if  it  Ihall,  in  any 
degree,  ferve  to  maintain  their  im.portance,  and 
to  promote  their  improvement,  fociety  will  have 
gained  fomev/hat  from  the  publication.  I  refpecc- 
fully  fubmit  it,  fuch  as  it  is,  to  the  public  judg- 
ment. 

BeTHNAL-GrEEN-RoAD,    7  tt     tt 

1 2th  Auguj}^  1792.         5 


A  1 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  VI. 


LECTURE      L 


Introdufl:ory  Ledlure.      Page  17 

Gen.  ii.  i%,'—And  the  Lord  God /aid.  It  is  not  good  thai 
the  man  Jhould  be  alone,  I  will  make  him  an  help-meet 
for  him. 


LECTURE       II. 
Hiftory  of  Deborah.  ^2 

Judg.  iv.  4,  5. — And  Deborah  a  prophetefs,  the  wife  of 
Lapidoth,  fie  judged  Ifrael  at  that  time.  And  Jhe 
dwelt  under  the  palm-.tree  of  Deborah,  between  Ramah 
and  Beth-el  in  Mount  Ephrai?n  :  and  the  children  of 
Ifrael  came  up  to  her  for  judgment. 


LECTURE      III. 
Hiftory  of  Deborah. 


44 


Judg.  iv.  21 — 23. — Then  Jael,Heber*s  wife,  took  a  nail 

of  the  tent,  and  took  an  hammer  in  her  hand,  and  went 

foftly  unto  him,  andfmote  the  nail  into  his  temples,  and 

fajiened 


vi  CONTENTS. 

fajlemd  it  into  the  ground :  for  he  was  faft  ajleep  and 
weary.  So  he  died.  And  behold,  as  Barak  purfucd 
Si/era,  yael  came  out  to  meet  him,  and  /aid  unto  him. 
Come,  and  I  will  jhevj  thee  the  man  wlyom  thou  feekcjt. 
And  when  he  came  into  her  tent,  b.hold,  Sij'cra  lay 
dead,  and  the  nail  was  in  his  temples.  So  God  Jiibdu- 
ed  on  that  day  Jabin,  the  king  of  Canaan,  before  the  chit' 
dren  of  Jfrael. 


LECTURE      IV. 
Hiftory    of   Deborah.  ^4 

Judg.  V.  I — 5. — Then  fang  Deborah,  and  Barak  the 
fon  (f  Abinoam,  on  that  day,  faying,   Praife  ye  the 
Lord  for  the  avenging  of  Ifrael,   when  the  people  wil- 
lingly offered  ihc?nfelves.     Hear,  0  ye  kings  ;  give  ear, 
0  ye  princes  :  I,  even  I  wdlfing  unto  the  Lord  ;  I  will 
Jing  praife  to  the  Lord  Gcd  of  Ifrael.    Lord,  when  thou 
wentefl  out  of  Seir,  when  thou  marchedjt  out  of  the 
field  of  Edom,  the  earth  trembled,  and  the  heavens 
dropped,  the  clouds  alfo  dropped  zuaier.     The  inouH" 
tains  melted  from  before  the  Lord,  even  that  Sinai  from 
before  the  Lord  God  of  Ifrael, 

LECTURE      V. 
Hiflory    of    Deborah.  qs 

Judg.  V.  12,  13. — Awake,  awake,  Deborah:  awake, 
awake,  utter  a  fong  :  arife,  Barak,  and  lead  thy  cap" 
tivity  captive,  thou  fon  of  Abinoam.  Then  he  made  him 
that  retnaineth  have  dominion  over  the  nobles  among  the 
people  :  the  Lord  made  me  have  dojninion  over  the 
mighty, 

LECTURE 


CONTENTS.  vli 

LECTURE      VI. 
Hiftory     of    Deborah.  77 

Judg.  V.  20,  21. — They  fought  from  heaven  ;  the  Jiars 
in  their  courfes  fought  againjt  Sifera.  The  river  of 
Kifhon  fwept  them  aivay,  that  ancient  river,  the  river 
Kifhon :  0  my  foul,  thou  haji  trodden  downjirength. 

LECTURE      VIL 
Hiftory  of  Ruth.  gg 

Ruth  i.  I — 5. — Now  it  came  to  pafs  in  the  days  when 
the  judges  ruled,  that  there  was  a  famine  in  the  land. 
And  a  certain  man  of  Beth-lehem-fudah  went  tofojourn 
in  the  country  of  Moab,  he  atid  his  wife  and  his  two 
Jons,  And  the  name  of  the  man  was  Eli?nelech,  and  the 
name  of  his  wife  Naomi,  and  the  name  of  his  twofons 
Mahlon  and Chilion,  Ephrathites  of  Bcth-khem-'Judah. 
Ajid  they  came  into  the  country  of  Moab,  and  continued 
there.  And  Elimelech,  Nao?ni*s  hifhand,  died  ;  and 
fhe  was  left  and  her  two  fans.  And  they  took  them 
wives  of  the  women  of  Moab  ;  the  name  of  the  one  was 
Or  pah,  and  the  name  of  the  other  Ruth  :  and  they 
dwelled  there  about  ten  years.  And  Mahlon  and  ChilioJi 
died  alfo  both  of  them  ;  and  the  wo7nan  was  left  of  her 
twofons,  and  her  hujband. 

^     LECTURE      VIIL 

Hiftory  of  Ruth.  ^^ 

Ruth  i.  14 — I  S.—'And  they  lift  up  their  voice,  and  wept 
again  :  a?jd  Orpah  hijfed  her  mother-in-law  ;  but  Ruth 
clave  unto  her.    And  fhe  faid.  Behold,  thy  Ji/ier-in-law 

is 


viii  CONTENTS, 

is  gone  back  unto  her  people^  and  unto  her  gods  :  return 
thou  after  thy  Jijier-in-laiv.  And  Ruth  faid^  Entreat 
me  not  to  leave  thee^  or  to  return  from  following  after 
thee :  for  whither  thou  goe/i,  I  will  go  ;  and  where 
thou  lodgeji,  I  will  lodge  :  thy  people  Jhall  be  my  people^ 
and  thy  God  my  God  :  where  thou  dieft,  will  I  die,  and 
there  will  I  be  burled :  the  Lord  do  fo  to  me,  and  more 
alfo,  if  aught  but  death  part  th^e  and  me.  When  fhe 
faw  that  fhe  was  ftedfajtly  minded  to  go  with  her,  then, 
foe  left  fpeaking  unto  her. 


LECTURE      IX. 
Hiftory  of  Ruth.  114 

Ruth  i.  19 — 22. — So  they  two  went  until  they  came  to 
Beth-lehem.  And  it  came  to  pafs  when  they  were  come 
to  Beih'lehem,  that  all  the  city  was  moved  about  them  ; 
and  they  f aid.  Is  this  Naomi  ?  And  fhe  faid  unto  them. 
Call  me  not  Naomi,  call  me  Mara  :  for  the  Almighty 
hath  dealt  very  bitterly  with  me.  I  went  out  fidl,  and 
the  Lord  hath  brought  me  home  again  empty  :  Why  then 
call  ye  me  Naomi,  feeing  the  Lord  hath  teflified  againfi 
me,  and  the  Almighty  hath  affliSled  me  ?  So  Nao7ni  re- 
turned, and  Ruth,  the  Moabitefs,  her  daughter-in-law^ 
with  her,  which  returned  out  of  the  country  of  Moab, 
And  they  came  to  Beth-lehem  in  the  beginning  of  bar  ley- 
harvefi. 

LECTURE      X, 
Hiftory  of  Ruth.  124 

Ruth  ii.  I — 3. — And  Naomi  had  a  kinfman  of  her  huf- 
band's,  a  mighty  man  of  wealth,  of  the  family  of  Elime- 
lech  ;  and  his  name  was  Boaz.  And  Ruth,  the  Mo- 
abitefs, faid  unto  Naomi,  Let  me  now  go  to  the  field,  and 

glean 


CONTENTS.  ix 

glean  ears  of  corn  after  him  in  ivhofe  fight  I  fhallfhid 
grace.  And  jhe  faid  unto  her.  Go,  my  daughter.  And 
Jhe  went,  and  came,  and  gleaned  in  the  field  after  the 

reapers :  and  her  hap  was  to  light  on  a  part  of  the 
field  belongitig  unto  Boaz,  who  was  of  the  kindred  of 

Elimelech, 

LECTURE      XI. 
Hiftory  of  Ruth.  136 

Jluth  ii.  4. — And  behold,  Boaz  came  from  Beth-lehem, 
and  faid  unto  the  reapers.  The  Lord  be  with  pu  ;  and 
they  anfwered  him.  The  Lord  blefs  thee, 

LECTURE      XIL 
Hiftory  of  Ruth.  148 

Ruth  ii.  5 — 17. — Then  faid  Boaz  unto  his  fervant  that 
was  fet  over  the  reapers,  Whofe  damfel  is  this  ?  And 
the  fervant  that  was  fet  over  the  reapers  anfwered  and 
faid.  It  is  the  Moabitifh  damfel  that  came  back  with 
Naomi  out  of  the  country  of  Moab  :  and  fhe  faid,  I  pray 
you,  let  me  glean,  and  gather  after  the  reapers  amongft 
the  fheaves  :  fo  fhe  came,  and.  hath  continued  even  from 
the  morning  until  now,  that  fhe  tarried  a  little  in  the 
houfe.  Then  f  lid  Boaz  unto  Ruth,  Heareji  thou  not, 
my  daughter  ?  Go  not  to  glean  in  another  field,  neither 
go  from  hence,  but  abide  here  f aft  by  my  maidens.  Let 
thine  eyes  be  on  the  field  that  they  do  reap,  and  go  thou 
after  them  :  have  I  not  charged  the  young  men  that  they 
fball  not  touch  thee  ?  And  when  thou  art  athirfi,  go  un- 
to the  veffels,  and  drink  of  that  which  the  young  men 
have  drawn.  Then  fhe  fell  on  her  face,  and  bowed 
herfelf  to  the  ground,  and  faid  unto  him.  Why  have  I 
found  grace  in  thine  eyes,  thai  thou  flyjuldefl  take  kmwU 
fdge  of  me,  feeing  I  am  a  fir  anger  ?  And  Bcaz  ojfwer- 

e4 


X  CONTENTS. 

ed  and /aid  unto  her.  It  hath  fully  been  Jhewed  me  all 
that  thou  hajl  done  unto  thy  mother-in-law  fince  the 
death  of  thine  hufoand  :  and  how  thou  hajt  left  thy  fa- 
ther and  thy  mother^  and  the  land  of  thy  nativity^  and 
art  come  unto  a  people  which  thou  kncwcjt  not  heretofore. 
The  Lord  recompenfe  thy  wprk,  and  a  full  reward  be 
given  thee  of  the  Lord  God  of  Jfrael^  under  whoje  wings 
thou  art  come  to  truji.  Then  Jhefaid,  Let  me  find  Ja- 
vour  in  thyfght,  my  lord  ;  for  that  thou  hafi  comforted 
me,  and  for  that  thou  hajt  fpoken  friendly  unto  thine 
handmaid,  though  I  be  not  like  unto  one  of  thy  handmaid- 
ens. A?id  Boazfaid  u?ito  her.  At  meal-time  come  thou 
hither,  and  cat  of  the  bread,  and  dip  thy  morfel  in  the 
vinegar.  And  jhe  fat  bejide  the  reapers  :  and  he 
reached  her  parched  corn,  and  Jhe  did  eat,  and  was 
fuffleed,  and  left.  And  when  Jhe  was  rifen  up  to  glean, 
Boaz  conunanded  Lis  young  men,  faying.  Let  her  glean 
even  amo}ig  the  Jhcaves,  and  reproach  her  not.  And 
hi  fall  alfofome  of  the  handfuls  of  purpcfe  for  her,  and 
leave  them  that  Jhe  may  glean  them,  and  rebuke  her 
not.  So  fde  gleaned  in  the  field  until  even,  and  beat 
cut  that  fhe  had  gleaned :  and  it  was  about  an  ephah 
of  barley. 

LECTURE       XIII. 

Hifloiy  of  Ruth.  i6i 

Rulli  il.  19 — 23.  and  iii.  i. — And  her  mother-in-law 
faid  unto  her.  Where  hafi  thou  gleaned  to-day  ?  and 
where  wroughteji  thou  ?  hlcffed  be  he  that  did  take 
knowledge  of  thee.  And  Jlie  Jhewed  her  mother-in-law 
with  whom  Jhe  had  wrought,  and  faid.  The  man^s 
name  -With  whom  I  wrought  to-day  is  Boaz.  And 
Naomd  faid  unto  her  daughter-in-law,  Bleffed  be  he  of 
the  Lord,  who  hath  not  left  off  his  kindnefs  to  the  liv- 
ing and  to  the  dead.  And  Naomi  faid  unto  her.  The 
man  is  near  of  kin  unto  us,  one  of  our  next  kinfmen. 

^  And  Ruth,  the  Moabi'efs ,  faid ,  He  faid  unto  me  alfo. 

Thou 


CONTENTS.  xi 

Thou  fhalt  keepfaji  by  my  young  men,  until  they  have 
ended  all  my  havjejt.  And  Naomi  f aid  unto  Ruth  her 
daiighier-in-Unu^  It  is  good,  my  daughter,  that  ihou  go 
out  with  his  maidens,  that  they  meet  thee  not  in  any  oih' 
er  field.  So  Jhe  kept  fajl  by  the  maidens  of  Bcaz  to 
^lean  unto  the  end  of  barley  har-veji,  and  of  wheat- 
harveji ;  and  dwelt  with  her  mother-iii-law.  Then 
Naomi,  her  mother -in-law,  f aid  unto  her.  My  daughter, 
Jhall  I  not  feek  rcjl  for  thee,  that  it  may  be  well  witk 
thee  r 


LECTURE       XIV. 


Hiftoiy  of  Ruth. 


1/4 


Ruth  iv.  13 — 17. — So  Boaz  took  Ruth,  and  foe  was  his 
wife :  and  when  he  went  in  unto  her,  the  Lord  gave 
her  conception,  and  Jhe  bare  a  fon.     And  the  women 

faid  unto  Naomi,  Bleffed  be  the  Lord,  which  hath  not 
left  thee  this  day  without  a  kinfman,  that  his  name  may 
be  famous  in  Ifrael.     And  he  jhall  be  unto  thee  a  re- 

ftorer  of  thy  life,  and  a  nourijher  of  thine  old  age.  For 
thy  daughter-in  law,  which  loveth  thee,  which  is  heller 
to  thee  than  feven  fons,  hath  born  him.  And  Naomi 
took  the  child,  and  laid  it  in  her  bofom,  and  became 
nurfe  unto  it.  And  the  women  her  neighbours  gave  it 
a  name,  faying.  There  is  a  fon  born  to  Naomi,  and  they 
called  his  name  Obed.     He  is  the  father  of  fejfe,  the 

father  of  David. 

LECTURE      XV. 

Hiftory  of  Hannah,  the  Mother  of 

Samuel.  185 

I  Sam.  1.  I — 8. — No"j)  there  was  a  certain  man  of  Ra- 
mathaim-zopJiim,   of  Mount   Ephraim,   and  his  name 

was 


iKii  CONTENTS. 

was  Elkanah^  the  f on  of  Jeroham^  the  [on  of  Elihu^  the 
fan  of  Tohu,  the  fan  of  Zuph,  an  Ephrathite.  And  he 
had  two  zvi-ves  ;  the  name  of  the  one  zvas  Hannah,  and 
the  name  of  the  other  Pemnnah  :  and  Peninnah  had 
children^  but  Hannah  had  no  children.  And  this  man 
went  up  out  of  his  city  yearly.,  to  worjhip  and  to  jacrifice 
unto  the  Lord  of  Hojls  in  Shiloh.  And  the  two  fons  of 
FJi,  Hophni  andPhinehas,  the  priefis  of  the  Lord.,  were 
there.  And  vjhen  the  time  was  that  Elkanah  of- 
fered, he  gave  to  Peninnah  his  wife.,  and  to  all  her  fons 
and  her  daughters,  portions.  But  unto  Hannah  he  gave 
a  worthy  portion  :  for  he  loved  Hannah  ;  kut  the  Lord 
had /hut  up  her  womb.  And  her  adverfary  alfo  provok-- 
ed  her  fore  .^  for  to  make  her  fret.,  hecaufe  the  Lord  had 
Jimt  up  her  womb.  And  as  he  did  fo  year  by  year.,  when 
flie  zvent  up  to  the  houfe  of  the  Lord-f fo  fie  provoked  her -, 
therefore  fhe  wept,  and  did  not  eat.  Then  [aid  Elkanah 
her  hifband  to  her,  Hannah,  why  zaeepefl  thou  f  and 
why  eate/l  thou  not  ?  and  zvhy  is  thy  heart  grieved  ?  Am 
not  I  better  to  ihee  than  ten  fons  f 

LECTURE      XVI. 
Hiilory  of  Hannah.  197 

I  Sam.  i.  9 — 18. — 5(9  Hannah  rofe  up  after  they  had 
eaten  in  Shiloh,  and  after  they  had  drank.  Now  Eli 
the  priefi  fat  upon  a  feat  by  a  pcjl  of  the  temple  of  the 
Lord.  And  Jlie  zvas  in  bitter ncjs  of  foul,  and  prayed 
unto  the  Lord,  and  wept  fore.  And  fhe  voived  a  vozv, 
and  f aid,  0  Lord  of  Hqfts,  if  thou  wilt  indeed  look  on 
the  affiiciion  of  thine  handmaid,  and  remember  me,  and 
not  forget  thine  handmaid,  but  wilt  give  unto  thine 
handmaid  a  man-child,  then  I  will  give  him  unto  the 
Lord  all  the  days  of  his  lif  e.,  and  there  fiall  no  razor  come 
upon  his  head.  And  it  came  to  pafs  as  fie  continued 
praying  before  the  Lord,  that  Eli  marked  her  mouth. 

Now 


CONTENTS,  3dii 

N'ow  Hannah,  JJie  fpake  in  her  heart,  only  her  lips  mov-^ 
ed,  but  her  voice  was  not  heard :  therefore  Eli  thought 
Jlie  had  been  drunken.  And  Eli  /aid  unto  her,  Hozv 
long  wilt  thou  be  drunken  ?  put  away  thy  wine  from 
thee.  And  Hannah  anfwered  and  jaid.  No,  my  lord,  I 
am  a  woman  of  a  forrowful  fptrit  :  I  have  drank 
neither  wine  nor  flrong  drink,  but  have  poured  out  my 
foul  before  the  Lord.  Count  not  thine  handmaid  for 
a  daughter  of  Belial :  for  out  of  the  abundance  of  my 
complaint  and  grief  have  I  fpoken  hitherto.  Then  Eli 
anfwered  andfaid.  Go  in  peace  :  and  the  God  of  Ifrael 
grant  thee  thy  petition  that  thou  haft  ajled  of  him. 
And  flie  faid.  Let  thine  handmaid  find  grace  in  thy 
fight.  So  the  woman  went  her  way,  and  did  eat,  and 
her  countenance  was  no  more  fad. 


LECTURE      XVII. 
Hiftory  of  Hannah.  209 

I  Sam.  i.  19 — 23. — And  they  arofe  up  in  the  morning 
early,  and  worfJiipped  before  the  Lord,  and  returned, 
and  came  to  their  houfe  to  Ramah  :  and  Elkanah  knew 
Hannah  his  wife,  and  the  Lord  remembered  her. 
Wherefore  it  came  to  pafs,  when  the  time  was  come 
about,  after  Hannah  had  conceived,  that  fie  bare  a  fon, 
and  called  his  name  Samuel,  faying,  Becaufe  I  have 
afked  him  of  the  Lord.  And  the  man  Elkanah^  and  all 
his  houfe^  went  up  to  offer  unto  the  Lord  the  yearly 
facrifice,  and  his  vow.  But  Hannah  went  not  up  : 
for  fhe  faid  unto  her  hufband,  I  will  not  go  up  until  the 
child  be  weaned,  and  then  I  will  bring  hi)n,  that  he  may 
appear  before  -the  Lord,  and  there  abide  forever.  And 
Elkanah  her  hufband  faid  unto  her.  Do  what  feemeth 
thee  good ;  tarry  until  thou  have  weaned  him  ;  only 
the  Lord  eftablljh  his  word.  So  the  wc7nan  abode,  and 
gave  her  fon  fuck  until  fhe  weaned  him. 

LECTURE 


xlv  C  0  N  T  E  N  T  S. 


LECTURE       XVIII. 
Hiftoiy  of  Hannah.  i>jg 

I  Sam.  i.  24 — 28. — -^nd  when  jhe  had  iveancd  him^ 
Jhc  took  him  up  ivith  her,  with  three  bullocks,  and  one 
ephah  of  flour,  and  a  bottle  of  wine,  and  brought  him 
unto  the  houfe  of  the  Lord  in  Shiloh.  And  the  child 
was  youn^.  And  they  flew  a  bullock,  and  brought  the 
child  to  Eli,  Andfl^e  faid,  0  my  lord,  as  thy  foul  liv- 
eth,  my  lord,  J  am  the  woman  that  flood  by  thee  here, 
praying  unto  the  Lord.  For  this  child  I  prayed  ;  and 
the  Lord  hath  given  me  my  petition  which  I  afked  of 
him.  Therefore  alfo  I  have  lent  him  to  the  Lord  1  s 
long  as  he  liveth  ;  he  foal  I  be  lent  to  the  Lord*  And 
he  worf dipped  the  Lord  there. 


LECTURE       XIX. 
Hiftoiy  of  Hannah.  228 

8:im.  il.  i — lo. — And  Hannah  prayed,  and  faid. 
My  heart  rejoiceth  in  the  Lord  :  mine  horn  is  ex- 
alted in  the  Lord,  my  mouth  is  enlarged  over  mine 
enemies  :  becaufe  I  rejoice  in  thy  falvation.  There 
is  none  holy  as  the  Lord  :  for  there  is  none  hefide 
thee :  ?ieither  is  there  any  rock  like  our  God.  Talk 
no  more  fo  exceeding  proudly ;  let  not  arrogancy  come 
out  of  your  jnouth  :  for  the  Lord  is  a  God  of  knowl- 
edge, and  by  him.  abiions  are  weighed.  The  bows  of 
the  mighty  men  are  broken,  and  they  that  fiumbled  are 
girded  withflrength.  They  that  were  full  have  hired 
out  themfelves  for  bread ;  and  they  that  were  hungry 
ceafed  ;  fo  that  the  barren  hath  born  f even  :  and  Jhe 
that  hath  many  children  is  waxed  feeble.  The  Lord 
killeth,  and  maketh  alive  :  he  bringeth  down  to  the 
grave,  and  bringeth  up.     The  Lord  maketh  poor,  and 

maketh 


CONTENTS.  XV 

Diaketh  rich  :  he  bringeth  low,  and  lifleth  up.  He  raif^ 
efh  up  the  poor  out  of  the  duji,  and  lifteih  up  the  beggar 
from  the  dunghill,  tofet  them  among  princes,  arid  to  make 
them  inherit  the  throne  of  glory  :  J  or  the  pillars  of  the 
earth  are  the  Lord's,  a?2d  he  hath  fct  the  world  upon 
them.  He  will  keep  the  feet  of  his  faints,  and  the  wick- 
ed fhall  be  filcnt  in  darknefs  :  for  by  firength  jhall  no 
man  prevail.  The  adverfaries  of  the  Lord  fhall  be 
broken  to  pieces  :  out  of  heaven  jhall  he  thunder  upon 
them  :  the  Lord  Jhall  judge  the  ends  of  the  earth  ;  a?2d 
he  jhall  give  Jirength  unto  his  king,  and  exalt  the  horn 
of  his  anointed. 

LECTURE      XX. 

Hiftory  of  Hannah.  440 

I  Sam.  ii.  18 — 2t. — But  Samuel  mijiiftered  before 
the  Lord,  being  a  child,  girded  with  a  linen  ephod. 
Moreover  his  mother  made  him  a  little  coat,  and 
brought  it  to  hi?n  from  year  to  year,  when  jhe  came 
up  with  her  hufband,  to  offer  the  yearly  facrifice. 
And  Eli  bleffed  Elkanah  and  his  vjife,  and  Jaidy 
The  Lord  give  thee  feed  of  this  woman,  for  the 
loan  which  is  lent  to  the  Lord.  And  they  went  unto 
their  own  home.  And  the  Lord  vifited  Ha7inah,  fo 
that  fhe  conceived,  and  bare  three  fons  and  two  daugh- 
ters.    And  the  child  Samuel  grew  before  the  Lord. 

LECTURE      XXL 
Hiftory  of  Hannah.  251 

I  Sam.  H.  12 — 17,  23,  24. — Now  the  fons  of  Eli 
were  fons  of  Belial :  they  knew  not  the  Lord.  A?id 
the  pricfls*  cufiom  with  the  people  was,  that  when 
any  man   offered  facrifice,   the  pricffs  fcrvant  caws 

while 


scvi  CONTENT 


u» 


while  the  fejh  was  in  feetJoing,  iviih  a  Jlejh-hook  of 
three  teeth  in  his  hand :  and  he  Jiruck  it  into  the  pan, 
or  kettle,  or  caldron^  or  pot :  all  that  the  fejl^hook 
brought  up,  the  priejt  took  for  himfelf :  fo  they  did  in 
Shiloh,  unto  all  the  Ifraelites  that  came  thither.  Alfo 
before  they  burned  the  fat,  the  prieft^  s  fervant  came,  and 
faid  to  the  man  that  facrificed.  Give  flejh  to  roaft  for 
the  priefi  :  for  he  will  not  have  fodden  flejh  of  thee, 
but  raw.  And  if  any  man  faid  unto  him.  Let  them  not 
fail  to  burn  the  fat  prefently :  and  then  take  as  much  as  thy 
foul  defireth,  then  he  would  anfwcr  him.  Nay,  but  thou 
fhalt  give  it  me  ?iow  :  and  if  not,  I  will  take  it  by  force. 
Wherefore  the  fin  of  the  young  7nen  was  very  great 
before  the  Lord,  for  ?nen  abhorred  the  offering  of 
the  Lord.  Now  Eli  was  very  old,  and  heard  all  that 
his  fons  did  unto  all  Ifrael.  And  he  faid  unto  them. 
Why  doyefuch  things  ?  for  I  hear  of  your  evil  dealings 
by  all  this  people.  Nay,  my  fons  :  for  it  is  no  good 
report  that  I  hear  ;  ye  ?nake  the  Lord's  people  to  tranf 
gref. 

LECTURE      XXII. 
Hiftory  of  Hannah.  262 

J  Sam.  ii.  i^.-^And  the  child.  Samuel  grew  on,  and  was 
in  favour  both  with  the  Lord  and  alfo  with  men. 


SACRED 


SACKED    BIOGRAPHY. 


LECTURE      I. 


GENESIS    11.    IS. 

And  the  Lord  God /aid.  It  is  not  good  that  the  manjhould 
be  alone,  I  will  make  him  an  help  meet  for  him, 

jL  he  holy  fcrlptures  always  exhibit  the  moft  fim- 
ple  and  the  jufleft  view  of  every  fubjedl  which  they 
treat.  And  what  fubjedt  of  importance  to  man  do 
they  not  treat  ?  The  God  who  made  us  what  we  are, 
formed  man  after  a  model,  deflined  him  for  a  fpecial 
fituation,  and  to  fulfil  a  fpecific  purpofe.  His  facul- 
ties, his  relations,  his  duties,  his  demands,  his  dehghts, 
were  all,  from  the  beginning,  prefent  to  the  eye  of 
his  Creator  ;  and  a  correfponding  arrangement  and 
provifion  were  made  by  Him,  who  feeth  the  end  from 
the  commencement,  and  who  exadlly  adjufls  all,  ac- 
cording to  number,  weight  and  meafure. 

The  perfeftion  of  the  works  of  God,  is  a  beautiful 
and  gradual  progrefs  toward  perfedlion  :  from  inani- 
mate to  vegetative,  from  vegetative  to  animal,  from 
animal  to  rational  nature  ;  each  approaching  to, 
bordering  upon  each,  but  every  one  circumfcribed  by 
a  boundary  which  it  cannot  pafs,  to  difturb  and  con- 
VoL.  VI.  B  found 


1 8  Introdiiclory  Le^ure,  Lect.  L 

found  the  province  of  another.  The  fcale  of  being, 
as  to  this  globe,  was  complete  when  God  had  "  creat- 
ed man  in  his  own  image."  But  focial  exiflence  was 
not  perfed  till  it  pleafed  God  to  draw  man  out  of  fol- 
itude,  by  making  him  "  an  help  meet  for  him."  This 
fmiply,  yet  clearly,  unfolds  woman*s  nature,  flation, 
duty,  ufe  and  end.  This  raifes  her  to  her  proper  rank 
and  importance,  and  inftrufts  her  how  molt  elfedual- 
ly  to  fupport  them  ;  this  forbids  her  to  afpire  after 
rule,  for  her  Maker  defigned  her  as  "  an  helper ;" 
this  fecures  for  her  aifedion  and  refpecl,  for  how  is  it 
polTible  to  hate  or  defpife  what  God  and  nature  hav« 
rendered  Citential  to  our  happinefs.  If  the  intention 
of  the  Creator,  therefore,  is  attended  to,  the  refpedlive 
claims  and  duties  of  the  fexes  are  fettled  in  a  moment, 
and  an  end  is  put  to  all  unprofitable  difcuflion  of  fu- 
periority  and  inferiority,  of  authority  and  fubje6lion, 
in  thofe  whofe  deflination,  and  whofe  duty  it  is,  to  be 
mutually  helpful,  attentive  and  affedionate. 

The  female  chara£ler  and  conduct  have  frequently 
prefented  themfelves  in  the  courfc  of  the  hiftory  of  the 
Patriarchs.  And  indeed  how  can  the  life  of  man  be 
feparated  from  that  of  woman  ?  Their  amiable  quali- 
ties and  praife-worthy  adticns  have  been  occafionally 
pointed  out,  and  unrefervedly,  though  without  adula- 
tion, commended  :  their  faults  and  follies  have  been, 
with  equal  freedom,  expofed  and  cenfured.  But  in 
the  inftances  referred  to,  female  conduct  has  under- 
gone only  an  accidental  and  tranfient  review,  in  de- 
tached fragments,  and  as  fupplementary  to,  or  pro- 
ducing influence  on,  the  condu£l  of  man.  The  pen- 
cil of  infpiration,  however,  having  introduced  perfons 
of  the  gentler  fex  into  its  inimitable  compositions  ; 
and  thefe  not  always  thrown  into  the  back-ground  or 
placed  in  the  fliade,  but  fometimes  fpringing  forward 
into  the  light,  and  glowing  in  all  the  brilhancy  of  col- 
ouring, I  have  been  induced,  with  trembling  fteps,  to 
follow  the  heavenly  guide  ;  and  to  follow  up  the 
fainter  flietches  of  a  Sarah,   a  Rebekah,  a  Rachel,  a 

Miriam, 


I 


Lect.  I.  hitroduStoi-'j  Ledure.  19 

Miriam,  with  the  more  finiihed  portraits  "  of  Deborah, 
the  wife  of  Lapidoth/'  "  Ruth  the  Moabitefs/*  and 
'•  Hannah,'*  the  mother  of  Samuel  the  prophet.  In 
order  to  introduce  thefe  with  greater  advantage,  I 
mean  to  employ  the  prefent  Lefture,  in  giving  a  gener- 
al delineation  of  the  female  character,  as  it  is  reprefent- 
ed  in  the  paflage  now  read,  and  as  being  the  purpofe 
and  ad  of  the  great  Lord  of  nature,  "  an  help  meet 
for  man.'*  Every  creature  was  intended  to  yield  help 
to  man :  the  flower,  with  its  beauty  and  fragrance  ; 
the  tree,  with  its  nutricious  fruit  ;  the  animal  tribes, 
with  all  their  powers  of  miniftring  fatisfadlion  to  the 
fenfes  or  to  the  mind.  Adam  furveyed  them  all  with 
delight,  faw  their  feveral  chara6lers  in  their  feveral 
forms,  gave  them  names,  obferved  and  glorified  his 
Creator's  perfections  difplayed  in  himfelf,  and  in 
them.  But  ftill  he  was  alone  amidft  all  this  multi- 
tude ;  the  underflanding  was  employed,  but  the  heart 
wanted  its  objeft  :  the  tongue  could  name  all  that  the 
eye  beheld,  but  there  was  no  tender,  fympathetic  ear, 
to  which  it  could  fay,  "  how  fair,  how  lovely,  how 
glorious  is  all  this  that  we  behold  !"  "  For  Adam  there 
was  not  found  an  help  meet  for  him."  The  want  of 
nature  is  no  fooner  perceived  by  the  great  Parent  of 
man,  than  it  is  fuppiied  ;  the  wifh  of  reafon  is  no 
fooner  expreffed  than  gratified.  Paternal  care  and 
tendernefs  even  outrun  and  prevent  the  calls  of  fihal 
neceffity.  Adam  has  felt  no  void,  uttered  no  com- 
plaint, but  "  the  Lord  God  faid.  It  is  not  good  that 
the  man  fliould  be  alone  :  I  will  make  him  an  help 
meet  for  him."  And  with  God,  execution  certainly 
and  inllantaneoufly  follows  defign.  "  And  the  Lord 
God  caufed  a  deep  fleep  to  fall  upon  Adam,  and  he 
flept  :  and  he  took  one  of  his  ribs,  and  clofed  up  the 
fieih  inftead  thereof.  And  the  rib  which  the  Lord 
God  had  taken  from  man,  made  he  a  woman,  and 
brought  her  unto  the  man.  And  Adam  faid.  This  is 
now  bone  of  my  bones,  and  fiefh  of  my  flefh  :  fhe 
ihall  h^  called  Woman,  becaufe  flie  was  taken  out  of 
B  9:  man. 


20  tntrodtt^tory  Lcclitre.  Lect.  I, 

man.  Therefore  fhall  a  man  leave  his  father  and  his 
mother,  and  fhall  cleave  unto  his  wife  :  and  they  Ihall 
be  one  flefli."*  How  completely  fuitable  an  helper 
God  provided  for  man  in  a  Itate  of  fmlefs  perfettion 
tranfcends  imagination,  much  more  defcription  ;  all 
that  is  lovely  in  form,  all  that  is  graceful  in  manner^ 
all  that  is  exalted  in  mind,  all  that  is  pure  in  thought, 
all  that  is  delicate  in  fentiment,  all  that  is  enchanting 
in  converfation.  This  felicity  was  made  fubjed  to  al- 
teration ;  this  harmony  was  not  to  continue  perfect  ^ 
but  the  original  intention  of  the  Creator  was  not  to 
be  defeated,  no,  but  even  in  a  ftate  of  degradation, 
difficulty  and  diftrefs,  as  in  a  (late  of  purity  and  peace, 
it  was  ftill  the  deftination  of  Providence,  that  woman 
Ihould  be  "  an  help  meet"  for  man.  In  what  import- 
ant refpe^ls  we  are  now  to  inquire. 

The  firft  and  mod  obvious  is,  as  his  counfellor  and 
coadjutor  in  bringing  up  their  common  offspring. 
Education,  on  the  part  of  the  mother,  commences  from 
the  moment  fhe  has  the  profpecl  of  being  a  mother  ; 
and  the  care  of  her  own  health  is,  thenceforth,  the 
firfl  duty  v/hich  fhe  owes  to  her  child. f  From  that 
moment  too  flie  becomes  in  a  peculiar  fenfe  "  an  help 
meet"  for  man,  as  being  the  depofitary  and  guardian 
of  their  mofl  precious  joint  concern.  How  greatly  is 
her  value  now  enhanced  1  Her  exiflence  is  multiplied, 

her 

*  Verfe  21 — 24. 

f  The  inftrufliorts  given  to  the  v/ife  of  Manoah,  and  mother  of 
Sampfon  the  Nazarite,  (Jud.  xiii.  4.)  "Now  therefore  beware,  I 
pray  thee,  and  drink  not  wine,  nor  ftrong  drink,  and  eat  not  any  un- 
clean thing,"  are  not  merely  arbitiary  iniun£lions,  adapted  to  a  par- 
ticular branch  of  political  economy,  and  intended  to  ferve  local  and 
temporary  purpofes  ;  no,  they  are  conftitutions  of  nature,  reafon,  and 
experience,  which  unite  in  recommending,  to  thofe  who  have  the 
profpcifl  cf  being  mothers,  a  ftricl'  attention  to  diet,  to  exercife,  to 
temper,  to  every  thing  which,  afrecling  the  frame  of  their  own  body 
or  m.ind,  may  communicate  an  important,  a  lalling,  perhaps  indelible 
imprefT.on  to  the  body  or  mind  of  their  offspring.  A  proper  regimen 
for  themfelves  is,  therefore,  the  firfl:  (bge  of  education  for  their  chil- 
dren. The  negle<Sl:  of  it  is  frequently  found  productive  of  effeda 
which  no  future  culture  is  able  to  alter  or  rectify. 


XiECT.  I.  IntrodiiLlory  LeSlure.  ii 

her  duration  is  extended.  A  man-child  is  at  length 
born  into  the  world  ;  and  what  helper  fo  meet  for  the 
glad  father  in  rearing  the  tender  babe,  as  the  mother 
-who  bare  him.  There  are  offices  which  ihe,  and  only 
;fhe,  can  perform  ;  there  are  affedlions  which  fhe,  and 
only  fhe,  can  feel  ;  there  are  difficulties  which  Ihe, 
and  only  fhe,  can  furmount.  Nature  has  here  fo  hap- 
pily blended  the  duty  with  the  recompenfe,  that  they 
cannot  be  diftinguiilied  or  feparated.  In  performing 
everv  r.;9:  cf  maternal  tendernefs,  while  fhe  tends  and 
nouriffies  the  body  of  her  infant,  fhe  is  gradually  and 
infeniibly  forming  his  mind.  His  very  firll  expreffions 
of  look,  voice  and  geflure,  are  expreffions  of  the  im- 
portant lefTons  which  his  mother  has  already  taught 
him,  attachment,  gratitude,  a  fenfe  of  obligation  and 
dependence.  Hitherto  fhe  is  the  fole  inflru£tor,  and 
*'  .a  flranger  intermeddleth  not  with  her  joy."  The 
dawning  of  reafon  appears ;  the  folicitude  of  a  father 
awakes  ;  what  a  tafk  is  impofed  upon  him  !  Who  is 
fufficient  for  it  ?  But  he  is  not  left  to  perform  it  alone. 
The  Lord  God  has  provided  him  "  an  help  meet  for 
him,'*  one  prompted  by  duty,  drawn  by  affe6:ion, 
trained  by  experience,  to  affifl  him  in  the 

Delightful  tafk  !  To  rear  the  tender  thought. 
To  teach  the  young  idea  how  to  fhoot. 
To  pour  the  frefh  inflruQion  o'er  the  mind. 
To  breathe  th*  enlivening  fpirit,  and  to  fix 
The  generous  purpofe  in  the  glowing  breafl. 

Thomson.     Spring,  i  148. 

In  the  more  advanced  flages  of  education,  after  the 
pupil  is  removed  from  under  the  maternal  wing,  of 
what  affiftance  to  the  fath.er,  of  what  importance  to 
the  child,  are  the  dehcate  ideas,  and  the  tender  coun- 
sels of  a  wife  and  virtuous  woman  I  Read  "  the  words 
of  "  king  Lemuel,  the  prophecy  which  his  mother 
taught  him,*'*  and  judge  whether  a  mother  may  be 
an  ufeful  "  help"  in  inftruding  a  fon,  a  grown  fon, 

and 

*  Prov.  xxxi.  I — q. 


ft4  Introdudory  Lecture.  Lect.  I. 

and  that  fon  a  prince.  In  truth,  the  mother's  influ- 
ence over  the  child,  as  it  begins  earlier,  fo  it  is  of  much 
longer  duration  than  the  father's.  The  fon,  having 
become  a  man,  or  approaching  to  that  (late,  begins  to 
feel  uneafy  under  the  reftraints  of  paternal  authority  ; 
he  longs  to  fhake  the  yoke  from  off  his  neck  ;  he 
pants  for  independence — he  muff  obtain  it.  But  what 
ingenuous  young  man  ever  felt  a  mother's  yoke  gall- 
ing, or  longed  for  emancipation  from  the  filken  fetters 
in  which  her  gentle  fingers  had  entangled  his  foul  ? 
In  the  perfeftion  of  underftanding,  in  the  plenitude 
of  power,  in  the  felf-gratulation.  of  independence,  to 
her  milder  reafon  he  jftill  fubmits,  her  unaffuming 
fway  he  readily  acknowledges,  and,  independent  on 
all  things  elfe,  he  feels  he  cannot  do  without  the  fmiles 
of  maternal  approbation,  the  admonitions  of  maternal 
folicitude,  the  reproofs  of  maternal  tendernefs  and  in- 
tegrity. 

Whatever  be  the  difpofitions,  whatever  the  faculties 
of  the  child,  whether  earlier  or  later  in  life,  the  bufi- 
nefs  neither  of  father  nor  mafters  can  proceed  wifely 
and  well,  without  the  co-operation  of  the  mother. 
Who  knows  fo  well  as  fhe,  the  road  to  the  under- 
ftanding, the  road  to  the  heart  ?  Who  has  fkill  hke 
her,  to  encourage  the  timid  and  reprefs  the  bold  ? 
Who  has  power  and  addrefs  like  a  mother's,  to  fub- 
due  the  flubborn  and  confirm  the  irrefolute  ?  Who 
can  with  fuch  exquifite  art  draw  out,  put  in  motion, 
and  dired  ordinary  or  fuperior  powers  ;  place  good- 
nefs  in  its  faireft  and  moft  attractive  light,  and  expofe 
vice  in  its  moft  hideous  and  forbidding  form  ?  In  the 
cafe  of  thofe  perfons  who  have  unhappily  grofsly  de- 
viated from  the  path  of  virtue,  how  many  have  beeii 
ftopped,  converted,  brought  back,  by  confiderations 
of  maternal  feelings — fhame,  and  forrow,  and  regret  ; 
and  by  the  recolledion  of  early  leffons,  and  principles, 
and  refolutions.  Having  been  "  trained  up,  when  a 
child,  in  the  way  wherein  he  fliould  walk,"  the  man 

calls 


Lect.  I.  Introductory  Le^ure,  23 

calls  It  to  remembrance  in  old  age,  approves  it,  returns 
to  it,  and  "  departs  from  it"  no  more. 

In  educating  the  children  of  her  own  fex,  the  moth- 
er feems  to  be  more  than  *-an  help  meet"  for  man. 
The  trull  chiefly,  if  not  entirely,  devolves  on  her  : 
and  where  could  it  be  depofited  io  well  ?  The  knowl- 
edge flie  has  of  herfelf,  experience  of  the  world,  and 
maternal  affe«5lion,  are  all  fhe  needs  to  qualify  her  for 
this  arduous  undertaking.  A  mother  only  can  enter 
into  the  feelings,  and  weaknefles,  and  neceiTities  of  a 
young  female,  entering  on  an  unknown,  varying, 
tempefluous,  dangerous  ocean;  for  (he  remembers  how 
fhe  herfelf  felt  and  feared,  what  (he  needed,  and  how 
ihe  was  relieved,  and  afiiiled,  and  carried  through. 
And  to  a  mother  only  gan  a  young  female  impart  the 
numberlefs,  namelefs  anxieties  which  every  fiep  fire 
takes  in  life  neceflarily  excite.  When  inz  converfes 
with  her  mother,  it  is  only  thinking  aloud.  A  moth- 
er's conduft  is  the  loveheil  pattern  of  virtue,  and  the 
hope  of  a  mother's  applaufe  is,  next  to  God's,  the 
moil  powerful  motive  to  imitate  it.  The  fuperiority 
of  female  to  male  youth  in  refpe£l  of  moral,  whatever 
be  the  cafe  as  to  intelle6lual  improvement,  is  clearly 
deduclble  from  the  larger  fnare  which  the  mother  has 
in  the  education  of  the  one,  than  of  the  other.  And 
the  more  liberal  and  enlarged  fpirit  of  the  times  we 
live  in,  procuring  for  the  female  world  a  more  liberal 
and  rational  education,  is  daily  evincing  to  what  an 
equality  of  intelledual  endowment  they  are  capable 
of  lifmg,  and  thereby  €>f,  in  all  refpeds,  fulfilling  the 
defign  of  the  Creator,  who  faid  in  the  beginning,  *''  I 
will  make  for  man  an  help  meet  for  him." 

I  now  proceed  to  mention  a  fecond  moil  important 
refped,  in  which  it  is  the  obvious  intention  of  Provi- 
dence that  woman  fhould  be  "  an  help  meet"  for 
man,  namely,  the  care  and  management  of  his 
worldly  eftate. 

In  a  paradifaical  ftate  man  did  not,  and  in,  what  is 
improperly  called,  the  ftate  of  nature,  he  could  not 

long 


24  Introductory  LeElure,  Lect.  I. 

long  continue.  In  the  former,  there  was  labour,  im- 
pofed  not  as  a  burden  or  a  punifhment,  but  bdlowed 
as  a  privilege  and  a  fource  of  delight.  The  help  of 
woman  enhanced  the  value  of  that  privilege,'  and  im- 
proved that  delight :  and  even  in  paradife,  the  atten- 
tion of  Eve  to  the  difpofal  of  the  fruits  of  his  labour, 
muft  have  been  to  the  man,  an  exquifite  acceiTion  to 
the  pleafure  of  enjoying  them.  The  arrangement 
which  her  tafte  and  care  had  made  conftituted  the 
charm  of  the  repaft.  In  a  ftate  of  uncultivated  na- 
ture, the  fubfiftence  of  the  day  is  man's  objedt.  He 
has  no  idea  of  "  much  goods,  laid  up  for  many  years." 
But  the  fociety  and  affiftance  of  his  rude  companion 
are  neceflary  to  give  a  relifh  to  '-what  he  took  in 
hunting  ;'*  and  "  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day,'* 
he  cheerfully  encounters,  in  the  profpeft  of  the  re- 
frefhment  and  repofe  of  the  evening  ;  and  even  the 
hut  in  the  defert  exhibits  the  accomplilhment  of  the 
Creator's  purpofe,  woman  "  an  help  meet"  for  man, 
managing  his  fcanty  portion  with  difcretion,  and 
doubling  it  by  participation. 

As  the  ftate  of  fociety  advanced,  new  ideas  of  prop- 
erty muft  have  been  produced.  The  labour  of  to-day 
began  to  look  forward  ;  *'  to-morrow,  and  to-morrow, 
and  to-morrow."  The  care  of  pofterity  arofe.  Per- 
manency muft  be  given  to  pofleftion.  The  earth  and 
its  produce  are  parcelled  out,  men  "  call  their  lands 
by  their  names,"  "  houfe  is  joined  to  houfe,  and  field 
added  to  field."  But  could  man  do  this  alone  ?  No. 
In  vain  have  his  labour  and  Ikill  provided  "  bread 
enough,  and  to/pare,'*  unlefs  the  woman's  prudent  at- 
tention manage  that  fufficiency,  and  lay  up  that  fur-- 
plus,  for  the  evil  day  which  may  come.  No  man  ever 
pvofpered  in  the  world,  without  the  confent  and  co- 
operation of  his  wife.  Let  /?/;?:  be  ever  fo  frugal,  reg- 
ular,  induftrious,   intelligent,   fuccefsful all   goes 

for  nothing,  if  foe  is  profufe,  disorderly,  indolent,  or 
unfaithful  to  her  truft.  His  farm  profpers,  his  barn 
is  filled  with  plenty,  "  the  floors  ar^  full  of  wheat,  the 

fats; 


Lect.  I.  Introdudory  Le&urf*  25 

fats  overflow  with  wine  and  oil,'*  his  cattle  increafe, 
he  is  waxing  rich.  His  neighbour's  commerce  thrives, 
his  plans  were  well  laid  ;  Providence  fmiles  ;  the 
wings  of  every  wind  are  wafting  to  his  door  gold,  and 
filver,  and  precious  things.  The  talents  of  a  third  are 
procuring  for  him  reputation,  and  diflindon,  and  hon- 
our, and  wealth.  How  came  they  all  to  fail  ?  Who 
opened  the  door,  and  let  poverty  rufh  in  as  an  armed 
man  ?  The  thing  fpeaks  for  itfelf.  The  defign  of 
Heaven  is  defeated  ;  the  parties  were  "  unequally 
yoked ;"  the  "  help"  found  for  thefe  men,  was  not 
"  an  help  meet**  for  them.  Skill,  was  counterad:ed 
by  carelefsnefs  ;  the  fruits  of  diligence  were  fcattered 
about  by  the  hand  of  diffipation  ;  the  labours  of  a 
year  periflied  in  the  fitting  of  an  evening  ;  "  by  much 
llothfulnefs  the  building  decayed,  and  through  idlenefs 
of  the  hands,  the  houfe  dropped  through." 

But  "  O  how  good  a  thing  it  is,  and  how  pleafant," 
when  the  gracious  intentions  of  God  and  nature  are 
fulfilled  !  With  what  fpirit  and  perfeverance  does  a 
man  labour  in  his  vocation,  when  he  knows  that  his 
earnings  will  be  faithfully  difpofed,  and  carefully  im- 
proved !  With  what  confidence  will  he  refort  to  his 
farm,  to  his  merchandife,  fly  over  land,  over  the  feas, 
meet  diflicuky,  meet  danger,  if  he  has  the  aflurance, 
that  he  is  not  fpending  his  time  and  fl:rength  for 
nought  and  in  vain  ;  that  all  is  well  and  fafe  at  home  ; 
that  indulgent  Heaven  has  crowned  all  his  other  blefl- 
ings,  with  that  of  "  ah  help  meet  for  him,"  a  difcreet 
manager  of  his  efl:ate,  a  fellow-labourer  with  him, 
from  intereft,  from  aff'e£lion,  from  a  fenfe  of  duty,  in 
"  doing  juflily,"  in  feconding  the  goodnefs  of  Divine 
Providence,  in  making  fair  provifion  for  the  time  to 
come,. in  "  providing  things  honefl:  in  the  fight  of  alt 
men  !"  I  conclude  this  branch  of  my  fubjed:,  with  a 
portrait  drawn  by  the  pencil  of  infpiration  j  may  Heav- 
en propagate  the  refemblance. 

"  Who  can  find  a  virtuous  woman  ?  for  her  price  is 
far  above  rubies.     The  heart   of  her  huflDand  doth 

fafely 


z6  IniroduSIory  ILe^iure,  Lect.  I, 

fafely  trufl:  in  her,  fo  that  he  fhall  have  no  need  of 
fpoil.  She  win  do  him  good  and  not  evil  all  the  days 
of  her  life.  She  feeketh  wool  and  flax,  and  vvorketh 
willingly  with  her  hands.  She  is  like  the  merchants 
fhips,  ihe  bringeth  her  food  from  afar.  She  rifeth  alfo 
while  it  is  yet  night,  and  giveth  meet  to  her  houfehold, 
and  a  portion  to  her  maidens.  She  confidereth  a 
field,  and  buyeth  it :  with  the  fruit  of  her  hands  fhe 
planteth  a  vineyard.  She  girdeth  her  loins  with 
ftrength,  and  ilrengtheneth  her  arms.  She  perceiveth 
that  her  merchandife  is  good :  her  candle  goeth  not 
out  by  night.  She  layeth  her  hands  to  the  fpindle, 
and  her  hands  hold  the  diltaff.  She  ftretcheth  out 
her  hand  to  the  poor  ;  yea,  flie  reacheth  forth  her 
hands  to  the  needy.  She  is  not  afraid  of  the  fnow 
for  her  houfehold :  for  all  her  houfehold  arc  cloathed 
with  fcarlet.  She  maketh  herfelf  coverings  of  tapef- 
try  :  her  cloathing  is  filk  and  purple.  Her  huiband 
js  known  in  the  gates  when  he  fitteth  among  the  el- 
ders of  the  land.  She  maketh  fine  linen,  and  felletll 
it ;  and  deiivereth  girdles  unto  the  merchant.  Strength 
and  honour  are  her  cloathing  :  and  fhe  fliall  rejoice  in 
time  to  come.  She  openeth  her  mouth  with  wifdom  ; 
and  in  her  tongue  is  the  law  of  kindnefs.  She  look- 
eth  well  to  the  ways  of  her  houfehold,  and  eateth  not 
the  bread  of  idlenei's.  Her  children  arife  up,  and  call 
her  blefTcd  ;  her  hufband  alfo,  and  he  praifeth  her. 
?vlany  daughters  have  done  virtuouHy,  but  thou  excel- 
left  them  all.  Favour  is  deceitful,  and  beauty  is  vain  : 
but  a  woman  that  feareth  the  Lord,  fhe  fliall  be  praif- 
cd.  Give  her  of  the  fruit  of  her  hands ;  and  let  her 
own  works  praife  her  in  the  gates.'** 

A  third  refpedt  in  which  God  intended  that  woman 
fhould  be  "  an  help  meet"  for  m.an,  is  the  care  of  his 
health,  and  every  thing  conne<51:ed  with  it ;  his  tran- 
quillity of  mind,  his  temper,  his  character  and  reputa- 
tion :  without   which  the  greateft  bodily  vigour  will 

quickly 

*  Prov.  xxxi.  10 — 31. 


Lect.  I.  Intrcdti^ory  Lemurs.  S7 

quickly  decay  and  link,  and  life   will  ceafc  to  be  a 
blelfrng. 

It  is  pleafant  to  have  a  companion  in  folitude,  an  af- 
fiftant  in  labour,  a  fellow-partaker  in  joy.  But  human 
life  contains  varieties  painful,  as  well  as  pleafant. 
Sorrow,  and  pain,  and  folicitude,  and  difappointment 
enter  into  the  hiftory  of  man  :  and  he  is  but  half- pro- 
vided for  the  voyage  of  life,  who  has  found  an  affoci- 
•ate  for  his  happier  days  only  ;  while  for  his  months  of 
darknefs  and  diilrefs  no  fympathizing  partner  is  pre- 
pared, no  *'  help  meet"  is  found.  The  provident 
care  of  the  Almighty  meets  every  ^vi/h  and  want  of 
man  ;  and  in  bellowing  upon  him  a  companion  for 
youth,  a  fharer  in  felicity,  a  partner  in  property,  he 
was  fecuring  for  him,  at  a  diftance,  a  friend  in  age,  a. 
folace  in  affliction,  a  partner  in  want—"  a  friend  that 
flicketh  clofer  than  a  brother." 

If  a  man's  worldly  eftate,  v/hether  it  be  much  or  lit- 
tle, is  wifely  managed,  one  foundation  of  health  and 
comfort  is  laid  ;  and  fhe  who  is  thus  habitually  em- 
ployed, may  be  confidered  as  adminiflring  a  perpet- 
ual medicine  or  cordial  to  her  huiband.  But 
no  prudence  of  forefight  can  ward  off  the  attack, 
of  difeafe,  or  prevent  the  flroke  of  calamity  ;  afflu- 
ence cannot  purchafe  releafc  from  pain,  nor  tender- 
nefs  cool  the  fever  in  the  blood;  But  the  fuiferer  is 
not  left  deflitute.  There  is  one  ear  into  which  he  can 
pour  out  all  his  heart ;  there  is  one  hand  ever  ready 
to  relieve  him ;  "  one  life  bound  up  in  his  life." 
And  as  enjoyment  derived  all  its  relifh  from  participa- 
tion, fo  mifery  lofes  all  its  anguifhi  in  the  bofom  of 
fympathy  and  kindnefs.  The  fpirit  of  penitence  is 
inferior  only  to  unfullied  innocence  ;  and  next  to  the 
bleffing  of  unimpaired  health,  and  uninterrupted  com- 
fort, is  the  confolation  of  ficknefs  alleviated,  and  com- 
fort reftored,  by  the  gentle  language  and  engaging  of- 
fices of  love.  What  ihall  I  fay  ?  Is  there  not,  perhaps, 
in  the  reftoration  of  repenting  guilt,  and  in  the  fuf- 
penfion  of  woe,  by  the  affiduity  of  affedion,  a  pecu- 
liar 


^8  hitrodu^ory  LcSliire.  X.JECT.  I. 

liar  fatisfaftion,  and  a  delight,  which  perfeQ:  inno- 
cence and  perfed:  heakh  could  not  poflibly  have 
known  ? 

The  regular  temperature  of  a  man's  body  is.,  howev- 
er, only  one  ingredient  in  the  cup  of  health.  "  An 
help  meet  for  him"  will  be  anxious  to  preferve  a 
found  mind  in  a  found  bpdy  ;  will  endeavour  to  pre- 
vent or  to  difpel  painful  reflection  ;  will  remove  difqui- 
cting  objects  ;  will  preient  fmiling  images  ;  will 
watch  the  ebbing  and  flowing  of  paflion,  will  bear  and 
forbear,  and,  like  the  beft  of  beings,  "  will  overcome 
evil  with  good." 

She  will  Ukewife  confider  herfelf  as  entrufted  with 
the  care  of  his  good  name.  His  reputation  is  her 
brightefl;  ornament ;  his  honour  is  her  joy,  and  crown 
of  rejoicing.  If  he  is  difgraced,  fhe  is  degraded.  Ev- 
ery inflance  of  mifconducl  in  her,  fhe  knows,  glances 
at  him  ;  and  therefore  to  fupport  his  dignity  is  a  pow- 
erful motive  with  her.  to  aft  wifely  and  well.  She  re- 
fleds,  that  not  only  by  grofs  deviations  from  duty  in 
the  wife,  does  the  hufband  fufter  in  character,  but 
that  levity,  indifcretion,  carelefsnefs  in  her,  are  an 
imputation  upon  his  underflanding,  and,  in  the  opin- 
ion of  the  world,  iacelTantly  upbraid  him  with  the 
choice  he  has  made,  of  "  an  help  meet  for  him."  As 
file  would  therefore  compafTionately  nurfe  his  body  in 
pain  and  ficlcnefs  ;  and  prudently  iludy  and  watch  his 
temper,  amidft  the  conflijct  of  contending  paffions,  fo, 
to  approve  herfelf  what  God  and  nature  meant  her  to 
be,  fhe  will  guard  his  fame,  the  life  of  his  life,  "  as  her 
precious  eye,"  and  thus,  in  every  thing  relating  both 
to  mental  and  bodily  health,  to  private  comfort  and 
public  eflimarion,  "  fhe  will  do  him  good,  and  not 
evil,  all  the  days  of  her  life." 

But  there  is  fomev^hat  flijl  dearer,  ftill  more  facred 
to  a  man  than  children  or  property,  than  health  or 
reputation,  fomewhat  which,  negleded,  forfeited,  lofl, 
it  "  will  profit  him  nothing  to  gain  even  the  whole 
world  j"  and  in  the  fecuring  and  promoting  of  which, 

who 


Lect.  t.  Introdu^ory  Lecture.  29 

who  is  fo  qualified  to  minifter  and  affift  as  her,  whom 
the  Father  of  mercies  gave  him,  to  be  "  an  help  meet 
for  him  ?"  I  mean, 

IV.  The  falvation  of  the  immortal  foul.  This  is 
indeed  a  perfonal  concern  ;  an  intereft  which  cannot 
be  transferred  or  communicated.  The  good-will  of 
another  cannot  impart  it ;  the  remifsnefs  of  another 
cannot  defeat  it :  to  God,  his  great  Mafter,  here,  ev- 
ery man  ftandeth  or  falleth,  for  "  every  one  mufl  give 
account  of  himfelf  to  God."  But  is  it  not  obvious, 
that  example,  that  reafon,  that  co-operation,  poflefs  a 
mighty  influence  toward  promoting  or  obflrufting 
perfonal  piety,  growth  in  grace,  meetnefs  for  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  ?  Is  the  man  imprelfed  with  the 
worth,  with  the  danger  of  his  own  foul ;  does  he  feel 
"  the  powers  of  a  world  to  come  ;'*  is  his  mind  turn- 
ed to  devotion  ;  is  the  love  of  God  fhed  abroad  in  his 
heart  ?  How  will  fuch  impreffions  be  fixed  and  ftrength- 
ened,  by  endeavouring  to  communicate  them  to  a  be- 
loved objeft,  and  by  receiving  back  the  imprellion,. 
heightened  and  improved,  from  that  objedt  ?  How 
much  more  exalted  and  alFefting  is  a  fenie  of  divine 
goodnefs,  when  it  is  beheld  embracing  more  than  one ! 
when  it  is  feen  conferring  immortality,  eternity,  on 
virtuous  human  affccl:ions !  what  a  live  coal  applied 
to  devotion,  when  the  loiitary  my  Father  and  my  God, 
is  changed  into  the  fecial  our  Father  and  our  God ! 
How  is  the  hope  of  glory  ennobled,  extended,  animat- 
ed, by  the  profpeQ:  of  participation  !  *'  Here  am  I, 
Holy  Father,  with  her  whom  thou  gaveft  me,  to  be 
an  help  meet  for  'me.  We  were  one  in  intereft  and  af- 
fection ;  one  in  the  faith  of  the  gofpel,  and  the  prac- 
tice of  piety  ;  our  prayers  afcended  in  one  ftream  of 
incenfe,  and  every  gift  of  thy  providence  and  •  grace 
was  multiplied  and  fweetened  to  each  by  being  be- 
ftov/.-.d  on  the  other.  Sweet  were  our  labours  of  love 
to  our  joint  offspring  ;  fvveet  our  united  efforts  to  im- 
prove the  bounty  of  our  common  parent ;  fweet  the 
fympdthies  of  kindred  hearts,  in  iicknefs  and  in  health, 

in 


^(ft  Tntrociu^ory  Lecture..  Lkct.  I. 

in  forrow  and  in  joy,  in  good  and  in  bad  report ;  but 
fweeter  far  the  conlblations  of  religion,  the  profpeft 
of  Ufc  and  i?n!nortalit}>  brought  to  light  by  the  gofpcL'** 
We  come  together  to  "  receive  the  end  of  our  fait  h^  the 
fahation  of  our  fouls  ;  as,  through  grace,  we  have  been 
made  helpers  of  each  other's  faith,  let  us  be,  eternal- 
ly, helpers  of  each  other's  joy." 

Is  the  man,  unhappily,  dead  to  all  fenfe  of  religion  ; 
fwallowed  up  of  time  and  fenfc  j  is  his  great,  or  only 
inquiry,  "  What  Ihall  I  eat,  what  fhall  I  drink,  v/here- 
■vvithal  fhall  1  be  clothed  ?"  Or,  more  wretched  (lill, 
is  he  delivered  over  "  to  commit  iniquity  with  greedi- 
neis,"  "  and  to  glory  in  his  fhame  r"  What  are  the 
moil  likely  means  of  awakening  him  to  reflection,  of 
reaching  his  confcience,  of  melting  his  heart,  of 
changing  his  condudl  ?  Preaching  is  vain,  he  turns 
"  a  deaf  ear  to  the  voice  of  the  charmer,  charm  he 
never  fo  wifely  :"  profperity  foilers  pride  and  forget- 
fulnefs  of  God  ;  adverfity  only  hardens  him  the  more  ; 
reafon  is  perverted,  paflion  has  acquired  the  afcend- 
ant,  the  power  of  habit  predominates :  but  the  Lord 
God  has  provided  "  an  help  meet  for  him.'*  When 
public  inflruClion  and  foreign  reproof  have  failed, 
the  mind  is  ftill  acceffible.  The  unaffected,  unoflen- 
tatious  charm  of  genuine  female  piety  is  fek  and  un- 
derftood,  and  becomes  efficacious  ;  the  filent,  unup- 
braiding  regret  of  conjugal  tendernefs  fupplies  the 
place  of  a  thoufand  arguments,  and  forces  its  way  to 
the  heart ;  "  the  effedual  fervent  prayer"  of  a  gra- 
cious woman  "  availeth  much  ;"  the  "  believing  wife" 
draws  to  the  Redeemer,  with  the  cords  of  love, 
*'  the  unbelieving  hufband  ;"  flie  becomes  the  bleffed 
inflrument  of  "  converting  the  fmner  from  the  error 
of  his  way,  ^\c  faves  a  foul  from  death,  (he  hides  a 
multitude  of  fms,"  and,  in  the  nobleft  fenfe  of  the 
word,  approves  herfelf  "  an  help  meet"  for  man. 

In  all  thefe  important  refpefts,  the  original  defign 
of  Eternal  Wifdom,  in  the  formation  of  woman,  is 
plain  and-  palpable.     To  have  fulfilled  one  branch  of 

duty. 


Lect.  I.  IntroduBory  LeEliire^  jf 

duty,  and  even  to  have  excelled  in  it,  is  no  exemption 
from  the  obligation  of  the  reft.  The  duties  of  life  and 
of  religion  run  in  a  feries,  one  is  linked  with  another, 
fuppoles  it,  cannot  be  feparated  from  it.  To  no  pur- 
pofe  are  children  well  educated,  if  through  the  indo- 
lence, folly,  or  vice  of  parents,  they  are  launched  into 
the  world  in  doubtful,  difhonourable,  embarralTed  or 
diftrefsful  circumftances.  What  is  it  to  me,  that  my 
fortune  is  prudently  and  frugally  managed,  if  my  per- 
fon  is  neglected,  my  temper  trifled  with,  my  reputa- 
tion facrificed,  "  my  good  name  filched  from  me  V* 
And  what  is  the  acquifition  of  a  world,  at  the  expenfs 
of  my  foul  ? — 

Let  it  be  underflood  and  remembered,  that  every 
word  which  has  been  faid  of  the  obligation  laid  on 
woman,  as  "  an  help  meet'*  for  man,  applies,  with  at 
leafl  equal  propriety  and  force,  to  man,  as  the  helper 
and  friend  of  woman.  Does  he  poiTefs  fuperiority  of 
any  kind  ?  It  is  evidently  intended  not  to  opprefs,  but 
to  fupport.  His  greater  llrengrh  is  given  for  her  pro- 
teftion  ;  his  more  vigorous  or  profound  powers  of 
thought  are  defigned  to  be  her  inftruftor  and  guide. 
Whatever  advantage,  real  or  apparent,  each  may  have 
above  the  other.  Providence  clearly  wills  to  be  employ- 
ad  for  the  comfort  and  benefit  of  the  other.  A  con- 
tention of  mutual  aifedion,  beneficence,  forbearance, 
forgivenefs,  is  the  only  flrife  which  nature,  reafon  and 
decency  permit  to  this  flate  and  relation. 

We  proceed  to  illuftrate  female  utility  and  import- 
ance in  focial  life,  by  certain  noted  examples  from 
the  facred  record.  May  God  fmile  on  every  attempt 
to  communicate  ufeful  truth.     Amen. 


Hiflory^ 


Hiftory  of  Deborah= 


LECTURE      11. 


JUDGES    IV.  4,  5. 

And  Deborah  a  prophetefs^  the  wife  of  Lapidoth,  fhi 
judged  Ifrael  at  that  time,  Andjhe  dwelt  under  the 
palm-tree  of  Deborah^  between  Ramah  and  Beth-el  in 
mount  Ephraim  :  and  the  children  of  Ifrael  came  up  t9 
her  for  judgment. 

1  HE  unremitting  attention  paid  by  a  wife  and  gra- 
cious Providence  to  the  affairs  of  men,  affords  equal 
matter  of  wonder  and  gratitude,  with  the  aftonifhing 
power  and  fkill  difplayed  in  the  firfl:  formation  of  this 
great  univerfe.  Let  us  fuppofe  the  care  of  that  Prov- 
idence for  a  little  while  fufpended,  and  the  world  left 
to  itfelf.  "Who  is  not  faocked  in  looking  forward  to 
the  probable,  the  certain  confequences  of  that  remif- 
fion  ?  Behold  inftantly  the  bars  of  the  vafl  abyfs  burft 
afunder,  and  "  hell  itfelf  breathing  forth  deftruftion 
to  mankind.'*  Behold  the  prince  of  the  power  of 
the  2.U  reigning  and  raging  without  control.  Behold 
chaos  and  ancient  night  refuming  their  murky  em- 
pire, and  darknefs  covering  the  face  of  the  deep ; 
earth  and  air  confounded ;  nature  convulfed  by  the 
fury  of  contending  elements,  unreflrained  by  law; 
univerfal  confufion  and  wild  uproar  prevailing. 

Alas, 


Lect.  II.  Hi/lory  of  Deborah.  33 

Alas,  it  is  not  neceflary  to  ftate  the  fuppofition  fo 
high.  To  conceive  the  wretcliednefs  of  mankind, 
deprived  of  the  conilant,  fuperintending  care  of  Heav- 
en, it  is  needlefs  to  let  loofe  the  demons  of  the  bot- 
tomlefs  pit ;  it  is  needlefs  to  unbridle  the  fury  of  the 
ocean,  or  to  aflift  the  roaring  winds  in  blovi^ing  up 
the  fire  into  a  hotter  flame.  Under  i\\q.  Jlighteji  alter- 
ation of  the  eltabliflied  order  of  things,  all  nature 
languifhes.  Remove,  for  a  moment,  the  all-ruling, 
all-fupporting  hand  of  the  great  Father  of  the  univerfe, 
and  lo,  this  fair  and  fertile  region  is  overwhelmed 
with  an  inundation,  and  thcit^  is  burned  to  one  pumice- 
flone,  by  the  force  of  celeftial  or  fubterraneous  fire. 
Here  arifes,  a  race  all  males,  like  the  fabled  generation 
of  warriors  which  fprung  from  the  ferpent's  teeth, 
armed  at  all  points  for  mutual  deflrudion  and  flaugh- 
ter  ;  and  there,  a  nation  of  timid,  defencelefs  females, 
inviting' violence  and  infult.  But  under  that  uninter- 
rupted divine  fuperintendence  all  goes  on  well ;  there 
is  no  fchifm  in  the  body  ;  every  thing  is  found  in  its 
place,  every  thing  performs  its  fundion.  The  exact- 
ed proportion  between  male  and  female  births  is  pre- 
ferved  ;  the  robufter  frame  is  ftill  found  united  to  the 
ilronger  mental  faculties ;  the  delicacy  of  the  feminine 
form  indicates,  to  the  very  eye,  the  fofter,  gentler 
qualities  of  the  fpirit  which  inhabits  it ;  and  nature  af- 
ligns  to  each  the  limits  of  duty,  and  the  fphere  of  ufe- 
fulnefs  and  exertion. 

But  the  great  God  is  pleafcd  to  make  himfelf  known, 
not  only  by  general  conformity  to  eilabliflied  laws,  but 
by  occafional  deviation  from  them.  That  the  fons  of 
men  may  know,  it  is  according  to  his  high  will,  thac 
all  creatures  are,  and  think,  and  act. 

The  hiftory,  which  this  evening  comes  under  our 
review,  exhibits  a  new  thing  in  the  annals  of  human 
nature  ;  alVerts  the  fovcreignty  of  the  Molt  High  over 
all  perfons  and  events  ;  places  the  female  charaftcr 
and  importance  in  a  new,  a  ftriking,  and  a  refpe^la- 
ble  point  of  view ;  and  thereby  adinoniihcs  the  one 
Vol.  VI.  C  fc^j 


54  Hijhry  of  Deborah.  Lect.  !!• 

fex  to  think  of  their  own  natural  general  fuperiority 
\vith  deference,  affection  and  honour  to  the  manly  ex- 
cellencies of  the  female  mind,  when  cultivated  by  a 
proper  education,  directed  to  a  worthy  object,  and 
roufed  into  exertion  by  a  great  and  worthy  occafion. 
Hitherto  we  have  feen  wife  and  good  women,  in  the 
retired  vale  of  domeltic  life,  their  proper  and  peculiar 
fphere  ;  Sarah  co-operating,  in  the  duties  of  hofpital- 
ity,  with  her  venerable  lord  ;  Rebckah.  refreiliing 
the  weary  traveller  and  the  thirfty  camel  with  water 
from  the  well,  as  they  went  on  their  way  ;  Rachel 
and  the  feven  daughters  of  Jethro  tending  their  fa- 
ther's flocks,  and  making  them  to  lie  down  under 
the  fliade  at  noon ;  Miriam  leading  the  feflive  dance 
and  fong,  in  celebrating  the  loving-kindnefs  of  the 
Lord,  and  the  triumphs  of  Ifrael ;  and  Rahab  giving 
ihelter  to  the  perfecuted  fpies,  and  providing  for  the 
fafetv  of  her  father's  houfe* 

But  we  are  now  to  contemplate  female  genias  and 
talents  forcing  their  way  to  public  obfervation,  and  to 
e\'^rlafting  renown  :  eclipfmg  mafculine  fagacity  and 
fortitude  ;  the  infpirer  and  the  example  of  generous 
patriotifm  and  martial  prowefs.  We  are  to  contem- 
plate feminine  warmth  and  eagernefs,  under  the  influ- 
ence of  prophetic  infpiration,  and  blended  with  the 
dignity  and  integrity  of  the  judgment  feat ;  female 
fpirit,  giving  breath  to  the  bloody  trumpet  of  war, 
directing  the  movements  of  the  embattled  hoft,  wak- 
ing into  facred,  poetic  rapture,  and  adapting  the  joy- 
ful drains  of  victory,  to  the  mufical  founds  of  the  liv- 
ing lyre. 

Ifrael  had  now  enjoyed  a  blefled  repofe  of  four- 
fcore  years  ;  and  are  again  corrupted  by  eafe  and 
profperity.  Their  national  character  and  condudt, 
are  a  fcriking  reprefentation  of  thofe,  of  many  indi- 
viduals, whom  we  are  daily  meeting  with  in  the 
world  ;  who  are  capable  of  bearing  neither  profperity 
nor  adverfitv  ;  whom  it  is  impoflible  to  ferve  or  to 
fave-j  who  by  their  perverfc^nefs  or  folly,  are  perpet- 
ually 


Lect.-  II.  Hijiory  of  Deborah.  ^^ 

ually  undoing  the  kindeft  dcfigns,  and  counterading 
the  mofl  vigorous  efforts  of  their  friends  in  their  be- 
half,  and  whom,  at  length,  friends  are  condrained  to 
abandon  in  defpair.  "Well  has  Nehemiah,  their  coun- 
tryman, defcribed  this  character,  and  difpiayed  the 
patience  and  long-fuffering  of  God,  in  that  recapitu- 
lation of  their  hiftory,  addrefled  folemnly  to  Heaven, 
in  the  ninth  chapter  of  his  book  ;  "  And  they  took 
(Irong  cities,  and  a  fat  land,  and  poifeffed  houfes  full 
of  all  goods,  \yells  digged,  vineyards  and  olive-yards 
and  fruit-trees  in  abundance.  So  they  did  eat,  and 
were  filled,  and  became  fat,  and  dehghted  themfelves 
in  thy  great  goodnefs.  .  Neverthelefs,  they  were  difo- 
bedient,  and  rebelled  againll  thee,  and  call  thy  law 
behind  their  backs,  and  flew  thy  prophets  which  tefli- 
fied  againil  them  to  turn  them  to  thee,  and  they 
wrought  great  provocations.  Therefore  thou  deliver- 
edd  them  into  the  hand  of  their  enemies,  who  vexed 
them  :  and  in  the  time  of  their  trouble,  when  they 
cried  unto  thee,  thou  heardeft  them  from  heaven ; 
and  according  to  thy  manifold  mercies  thou  gavefl: 
them  faviours,  who  faved  them  out  of  the  hand  of 
their  enemies.  But  after  they  had  reft,  they  did  evil 
again  before  thee  :  therefore  lefteft  thou  them  in  the 
hand  of  their  enemies,  fo  that  they  had  the  dominion 
over  them  ;  yet  when  they  returned  and  cried  unto 
thee,  thou  heardeft  them  from  heaven,  and  many 
times  didft  tliou  deliver  them,  according  to  thy  mer- 
cies ;  and  teftifiedft  againft  them,  that  thou  mighteft 
bring  them  again  unto  thy  law  :  yet  they  dealt  proud- 
ly, and  hearkened  not  unto  thy  commandments,  but 
iinned  againft  thy  judgments,  which  if  a  man  do,  he 
(liall  live  in  them ;  and  withdrew  the  flioulder,  and 
hardened  their  neck,  and  would  not  hear.  Yet  many 
years  didft  thou  forbear  them,  and  teftifiedft  againft 
them  by  thy  Spirit  in  thy  prophets :  yet  would  they 
not  give  ear :  therefore  gavcft  thou  them  into  the 
hand  of  the  people  of  the  lands.  Neverrhelefs,  for 
thy.  great  mercies  fake  thou  didft  not  utterly  confume 
C  2  them. 


3 6  Hi/lory  of  Deborah.  Lect.  IF. 

them,  nor  forfake  them ;  for  thou  art  a  gracious  and 
merciful  God.*** 

If  we  are  to  judge  of  the  atrocity  of  the  offence  com- 
mitted on  the  occafion  before  us,  from  the  fe verity  of 
the  punilhment,  the  length  of  its  duration,  and  the 
violence  of  their  oppreffor,  we  muft  conckide  it  to 
have  been  uncommonly  grievous  :  for  the  Lord  fold- 
them  into  the  hand  of  Jabin  king  of  Canaan,  part  of 
whofe  formidable  hoft  confifted  of  nine  hundred  char- 
iots of  iron  ;  and  who  for  "  twenty  years  together 
mightily  oppreifed  the  children  of  Ifrael.**  Calamity 
is  peculiarly  oppreffive,  when  it  is  embittered  with  the 
reflection,  that  it  might  have  been  prevented  ;  that  it 
is  the  native  fruit  of  oijr  own  doings  :  and  with  find- 
ing the  wretched  alfociates  of  our  guilt  the  wretched 
partakers  of  our  woe. 

Hope  feems  quite  extinguifhed  in  ffrael.  Not  one 
man  of  common  fpirit,  in  the  courfe  of  twenty  years 
oppreffion,  appears  awakened  to  a  fenfe  of  his  coun- 
try's wrongs,  and  generoufly  prompted  to  hazard  his 
life  in  removing,  or  avenging  them.  But  the  caufe  of 
the  church  of  God  is^  never  to  be  defpaired  of.  Its 
emblem  is,  "  the  bufh  burning,  but  not  confumed." 
Its  motto,  "  call  down,  but  not  deftroyed.**  And 
whither  are  our  eyes,  at  this  time,  directed  to  behold 
the  faviour  of  a  fmking  country  ?  Behold  the  refidue 
of  the  Spirit  is  upon  the  head  of  a  woman  ;  the  facred 
flame  of  public  fpirit,  fmothered  and  dead  in  each 
manly  bread,  yet  glows  in  a  female  bofom ;  and  the 
tribunal  of  judgment,  deferted  by  mafculine  virtue  and 
ability,  is  honourably  and  ufefully  filled  by  feminine 
fenfibility,  difcernment,  honefty  and  zeal.  "  And 
Deborah  aprophetefs,  the  wife  of  Lapidoth,  Ihe  judg- 
ed Ifrael  at  that  time."t  She  was  a  wife  and  a  moth- 
er in  Ifrael,  and  fuch  a  wife  is  a  crov.'n  to  her  huf- 
band,  fuch  a  mother,  the  glory  and  pride  of  her  chil- 
dren ;  but  her  great,  her  capacious  foul  embrac- 
ed more  than  her  own  family,  aimed  at  the   happi- 

nefs 

*  Ncii.  ix.  25 — 31.  f  Judges  iv.  4. 


iL"ECT.  IL  Hi/iory  vf  Deborah >  2)7 

tifefs  of  thoufands,  fweetly  blended  public  with  pri- 
vate virtue.  Is  it  unreafonable  to  fuppofe,  that  the  dif- 
creet  and  wife  management  of  her  own  houfehold,  firll 
procured  her  the  public  notice  and  efteem  :  and  that 
the  prudent  deportment  of  the  matron,  paffed  by  a  nat- 
ural and  eafy  tranfition  into  the  fandity  of  the  proph- 
etefs,  and  the  gravity  and  authority  of  the  judge  ? 
Certain  it  is,  that  the  reputation  which  is  not  eftablifli- 
cd  on  the  bafis  of  perfonal  goodnefs,  like  a  houfe 
built  upon  the  fand,  mull  fpeedily  fmk,  and  fail  to 
pieces. 

Hitherto,  we  have  feen  only  "  holy  ?nen  of  God 
fpeaking  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghoft.'* 
But  the  great  Jehovah  is  no  refpe^er  of  perfons  or 
fexes  :  "  the  fecret  of  the  Lord  is  with  them  that 
fear  him,  and  he  fheweth  unto  them  his  holy  cove- 
nant." The  fimple  dignity  of  her  unadorned,  unaf- 
fuming  ftate,  is  beautifully  reprefented :  "  She  dwelt 
under  the  palm-tree  of  Deborah,  between  Ramah  and 
Beth-el,  in  Mount  Ephraim  :  and  the  children  of  Ifra- 
el  came  up  to  her  for  judgment."*  Behold  a  female 
mind  exalted  above  the  pageantry  and  pride  of  exter- 
nal appearance  ;  not  deriving  confequence  from  the 
fplendour  of  her  attire,  the  charms  of  her  perfon,  or 
the  number  of  her  retinue,  but, from  the  affability  of 
her  manners,  the  purity  of  her  charader,  the  facred- 
jiefs  of  her  office,  the  impartiality  of  her  conducl, 
the  importance  of  her  public  fervices ;  not  wander- 
ing from  place  to  place,  hunting  after  a  little 
empty  applaufe,  but  fought  unto  of  all  Ifrael  for 
the  eminency,  and  extenfive  utility  of  her  talents 
and  her  virtues.  Her  canopy  of  ftate  was  the 
ffiade  of  the  palm-tree,  her  rule  of  judgment  the  law 
and  the  teftimony  of  the  living  God  ;  her  motive,  the 
infpiration  of  the  Almighty ;  her  aim  and  end,  the 
glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  her  people  ;  her  re- 
ward, the  teltimony  of  a  good  confcience,  the  refpeft 
of  a  grateful  nation,  the  admiration  of  future  genera- 
tions, 

^  Judges  iv.  ^. 


2^  Mi/lory  of  'Deborah.  Lect.  IL 

tions,  the  fmiles  of  approving  Heaven.  What  a^, 
compared  to  thcfe,  the  ermined  robe,  the  ivory  fcep- 
tre,  the  chair  of  ftate,  the  glittering  diadem  ! 

But  alas  !  what  availeth  the  moft  upright  and  im- 
partial adminiftration  of  juflicc,  among  a  people  en- 
llaved  in  the  extreme,  groaning  under  a  foreign  yoke, 
holding  liberty,  property  and  life,  by  the  wretched 
tenure  of  a  tyrant's  caprice  ?  The  ardent  foul  of  Deb- 
orah afpires  at  nothing  ihort  of  a  total  emancipation 
of  her  bleeding  country  from  thefe  inglorious  chains. 
And  hke  a  true  prophetefs  of  the  living  and  true  God, 
fhe  engages  in  this  noble  and  generous  enterprife, 
not  with  the  zeal  of  an  enthufiaft,  not  in  an  idle,  inac- 
tive reHance  on  fupernatural  affiftance ;  but  in  the 
honed  confidence  of  a  good  caufe,  the  diligent  ufe  of 
the  mod  promifmg  means,  and  ultimate  dependence 
on  the  bleffing  of  Him  *'  who  worketh  all  things  after 
the  counfel  of  his  will." 

The  character  of  this  illuftrious  heroine,  grows  up- 
on us  as  we  proceed ;  and  exhibits  a  picture  of  fe- 
male excellence,  to  which  her  own  fex  may  look  with 
emulation  and  honed  pride,  and  ours,  with  admira- 
tion and  edeem,  unmixed  with  envy.  An  ordinary 
woman,  in  her  place,  and  pofleded  of  her  advantages, 
would  probably  have  aimed  at  the  fole  reputation  of 
having  delivered  her  country.  But  v.'hen  a  military 
operation  is  to  be  fet  on  foot,  for  the  attainment  of 
this  end,  with  the  moded  referve  becoming  her  fex, 
fhe  i'atisfies  herfelf  v/ith  advifmg  only.  When  the 
fword  of  Ifrael  is  to  be  drawn,  let  it  be  wielded  by 
manly  hands  ;  let  Barak  come  in  for  a  fliare  of  the 
danger,  the  labour,  and  the  praife.  She  is  to  be  the 
direding   head,  and  he  the  aiftive   hand.     But  what 

was  the  broken  drenrth  of  two  of  the  lead  of  the 
o 

tribes  of  Ifrael  ?  What  were  ten  thoufand  men  to 
carry  on  offeniive  war  againd  a  povv  er  which  could 
employ  nine  huns-Uxd  chariots  of  iron  as  part  of  his 
force  ?  What  mud  have  been  the  number  of  infantr) 
that  correlpondcd  \.o  this  formidable  armament  ?  For 

fuch 


Lect.  II.  Hi/lory  of  Deborah.  3f 

fuch  a  handful  of  men  to  appear  in  arms,  was  to  pro- 
voke their  own  fate,  not  to  ferve  their  bleeding  coun- 
try ;  it  was  to  roufe  their  haughty  opprcfiors  into  more 
violent  rage  and  crueltv,not  to  attack  them  with  a  prob- 
abihty  of  fuccefs.  The  force  called  for  by  the  proph- 
qtefs,  by  divine  appointment,  v,^as  thus  fmall,  that  the 
glory  of  all,  in  the  iiilie,  might  be  afcribed  folely  to 
God  :  and  it  was  thus  great,  to  teach  mankind,  that, 
as  they  hope  to  profper,  their  own  exertions  muft 
co-operate  with  the  influence  of  over-ruhng  Provi- 
dence. 

Such  was  either  the  general  defpondency  that  pre- 
vailed in  Ifrael  at  that  dark  period,  or  fuch  the  gener- 
al confidence  repofed  in  Deborah,  that  Barak  accepts 
the  commiffion  given  him,  and  confents  to  head  the 
forces  of  his  country  into  the  field,  under  the  exprefs 
condition  that  their  prophetefs  and  judge  would  be 
his  companion  and  diredrefs  in  the  warfare.  To  this 
fhe  yields  a  cordial  allent,  and  cheerfully  engages  to 
take  part  in  all  that  regarded  the  public  fervice,  wheth- 
er counfel  or  refolution  were  needful  to  carry  it  on. 
She  would  not,  could  it  with  propriety  be  avoided, 
become  a  leader  in  arms,  but  feels  no  reluctance,  is 
confcious  of  no  fear,  when  attending  the  captain  of  the 
Lord's  holt  into  "  the  valley  of  decifion."  It  is 
pleafant  to  obferve  how  the.  manly  virtues,  properly 
modified  and  corrected,  may  be  adopted  into  the  fe- 
male character,  not  only  without  giving  offence,  but 
fo  as  to  communicate  the  highefl  fatisfadion  and  win 
approbation  ;  and  how,  on  the  other  hand,  the  fofteft 
of  the  female  graces,  may,  without  fmking  the  manly 
charader,  without  exciting  contempt^  become  a  fliade 
to  the  boldeft,  hardielt  mafculine  qualities.  Courage 
has  been  reckoned  an  attribute  peculiar  to  men  ;  but 
it  is  eafy  to  conceive  it  fo  rairfed,  and  fo  expreffed,  and 
fo  exerted,  as  to  be  not  only  pardonable  in,  but  highly 
ornamental  to,  woman.  "  A  hen  gathering  her  chick- 
ens under  her  wings,'*  is  a  pidure  not  only  of  mater- 
nal tendernefs,  but  of  the  moil  undaunted  intrepidity. 

"A 


40  Hijkry  of  Deborah,  Lect.  .It. 

"  A  bear  bereaved  of  her  whelps,"  is  not  more  fierce 
and  more  fearlefs.  A  mother  defying  the  danger  of 
the  peftilential  air  which  fhe  inhales  from  her  fmitten 
child ;  a  mother  flying  as  a  lionefs  on  the  brutal 
wretch  who  dared  to  crufh  her  Httle  darhng ;  how 
dignified,  what  a  noble  creature  fhe  is !  A  tender  vir- 
gin flirred  up  into  holy  indignation  at  hearing  her  ab- 
fent  friend  traduced  by  the  tongue  of  malevolence, 
forgetting  herfelf  for  a  moment,  to  repel  the  barba- 
rous infult.  O  it  is  a  diforder  fo  lovely,  that  it  al- 
mofl  deferves  to  be  ftamped  with  the  name  of  virtue. 
To  fee  Deborah  quitting  her  feat  under  the  palm-tree, 
to  attend  Barak  to  the  top  of  Mount  Tabor,  tvhen  the 
enemies  of  her  God  and  of  her  country  are  to  be  en- 
gaged and  fubdued  ;  what  heart  does  not  catch  fire 
from  her  heroic  ardour  !  what  tongue  can  withhold 
its  tribute  of  praiCe  1 

V/hile  Deborah,  without  hefitation,  agrees  to  ac- 
company Barak  to  the  high  places  of  the  field,  by 
virtue  of  the  fpirit  of  prophecy  which  was  upon  her, 
file  informs  him  that  the  glory  he  fhould  obtain,  was 
to  fuifer  confiderable  diminution,  not  only  by  her  par- 
ticipation of  it,  but  alfo  by  the  communication  of  it 
to  another  woman,  for  whom  Providence  had  referv- 
ed  the  honour  of  putting  the  laft  hand  to  this  ardu- 
ous undertaking.  Indeed  this  feems  to  be  a  crifis,  in 
the  hiftory  of  human  nature,  at  which  Providence  in- 
tended to  exhibit  the  powers  of  the  female  mind  in 
all  their  force  and  all  their  extent  ;  intended  to 
reprefent  the  fex  in  every  lituation  that  can  create  ef- 
teem,  infpire  love,  command  refpeft,  or  awaken  ter- 
ror. The  united  fpirits  and  achievements  of  Debo- 
rah, and  Jael  the  wife  of  Heber,  feem  to  comprehend 
the  whole  compafs  of  the  feminine  character  in  its 
more  extraordinarv  feelings  and  exertions  :  and  in 
the  difplaying  the  conduct  of  thefe  two  individuals, 
roufe  our  attention  to  the  whole  fex,  as  the  moft 
warm,  fteady  and  affedionate  of  friends,  or  the  moff 
formidable,  dancrerous  and  determined  of  enemies. 

But 


Lect.  iL  Hi/lory  of  Deborah,  41* 

But  we  mufl  not  bring  forward  both  at  once.  We 
conclude  with  a  reflection  or  two,  on  what  has  been 
iuggefted  from  the  hiftory  of  Deborah. 

I.  It  expofes  the  folly  of  defpifmg  or  undervaluing 
any  defcription  of  our  fellow-creatures  in  the  lump. 
All  national  reflections  are  founded  in  ignorance  and 
folly  ;  and  the  defpifers  have  often  paid  dear  for  their 
infolence  and  prefumption.  The  illiberal  abufe  fo  in- 
difcriminately  poured  upon  the  gentler  fex,  is  of  the 
iame  nature.  It  generally  comes  from  men  fomething 
worfe  than  the  word  part  of  womankind.  The  truly 
fenfible,  and  the  truly  brave,  entertain  far  better  and 
far  more  jiifl;  fentiments  of  female  utility  and  import- 
ance in  the  fcale  of  being  ;  and  are  ever  difpofed  to 
afcribe  to  female  capacity  and  worth,  more  than 
female  modefly  and  wifdom  are  difpofed  to  af- 
fume,  or  even  to  receive.  No  good  man  ever  wifh- 
ed  to  fee  the  female  character  undervalued  or  de- 
graded ;  and  perhaps  very  few  good  women  have  ever 
violently  coveted  ilations  and  employments  which  be- 
long  peculiarly  to  men.  But  as  nature  delights  in 
producing  variety,  as  well  as  uniformity,  it  is  not  to 
be  wondered  at,  if  we  fometimes  meet  with  men  more 
filly,  timid  and  frivolous,  than  the  mod  infignificant 
of  the  other  fex  ;  and  on  the  other  hand,  women  as 
daring,  as  enlightened,  as  magnanimous,  as  public- 
fpirited  as  the  firit  among  mankind.  The  rivalfliip, 
however,  and  competition  of  the  fexes,  is  altogether 
ridiculous  and  abfurd.  Each  has  its  diftind:,  and 
both  have  their  conjoined  dignity  and  ufefulnefs — and 
mutual  conceflion  is  the  trueft  wifdqm  in  the  one  and 
in  the  other. 

But,  II.  however  weak  and  contemptible  the  inftru- 
ment  were  in  itfelf,  from  the  hand  that  wields  it,  it  be- 
comes mighty  and  refpedable  :  and  the  hiftory  before 
us  becomes,  and  that  not  darkly,  a  typical  reprefenta- 
tion  of  the  gofpel  of  Chrift,  which  was  "  to  the  Jews 
a  ftumbling-block,  and  to  the  Greeks  foolifhnefs." 
Pride  and  felf-fufliciency  fmile  at  the  idea  of  a  female 

prophet, 


42  Hijlory  of  Deborafk  Lect.  il. 

|)rophct,  a  female  judge,  a  female  poet,  a  female  pol- 
itician, a  female  warrior ;  and  yet,  in  truth,  women 
have  filled  all  thefe  offices,  with  credit  to  themfelves, 
and  with  fatisfadion  to  the  public.  And  "  who  hath 
made  man's  mouth  ?  or  who  maketh  the  dumb  or 
deaf,  or  the  feeing,  or  the  blind  ?''  In  the  honoured 
lift  of  thofe  who  "  through  faith  fubdued  kingdoms, 
wrought  righteoufnefs,  obtained  promifes,  Itopped 
the  mouths  of  lions,  quenched  the  violence  of  fire,  ef- 
caped  the  edge  of  the  fword,  out  of  weaknefs  were 
made  ftrong,  waxed  valiant  in  fight,  turned  to  flight 
the  armies  of  the  aliens,"  female  names  too  fland  re- 
corded with  commendation  and  renown.  And  "  what 
haft  thou,  O  man,  but  what  thou  haft  firft  received  ?'* 
— "  God  hath  chofen  the  foolifti  things  of  the  world 
to  confound  the  wife  ;  and  God  hath  chofen  the  weak 
things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  things  which  are 
mighty  ;  and  bafe  things  of  the  world,  and  things 
which  are  defpifed  hath  God  chofen,  yea,  and  things 
which  are  not,  to  bring  to  nought  things  that  are : 
that  no  flefti  /hould  glory  in  his  prefence." 

III.  As  the  great  Ruler  of  the  world  ziever  can  want 
an  inftrument  to  fave,  fo  he  is  always  provided  with 
inftruments  to  punilh.  "  He  is  wife  in  heart  and 
mighty  in  ftrength  ;  v/ho  hath  hardened  himfelf 
againit  him  and  hath  profpered  ?'*  The  haughtieft  of 
monarchs  is  at  length  conftrained  to  "  praife  and  extol 
and  honour  the  King  of  heaven,  all  whofe  works  are 
truth,  and  his  ways  judgment,  and  thofe  that  walk 
in  pride  he  is  able  to  abafe."  "  By  a  ftrong  hand  and 
ftretched-out  arm,"  Pharaoh  is  at  length  compelled 
to  "  let  Ifrael  go.''  "  Humble"  then  "  thyfelf,"  O 
man,  "  under  his  mighty  hand."  "Be  wife  now,  O  ye 
king?,  be  inftrutted,  ye  judges  of  the  earth,  ferve  the 
Lord  with  fear,  and  reioice  with  trembling." 

The  next  Lecture  will  carry  on  the  hiftory  of  Debo- 
rah, in  connexion  v.'irh  that  of  Jael.  I  conclude  the 
prefent,  with  calling  on  the  female  part  of  mv  audi- 
ence to  blcfs  God,  that  vv^hile  he  has  carried  feme  of 

their 


Lect.  II.  Hijlory  of  Deborah,  43 

their  fex,  through  the  moft  arduous  employments, 
mod  eminent  ftations,  and  moft  hazardous  enterprifes, 
not  only  with  fafety,  but  with  applaufe,  he  is  pleafed, 
in  general,  to  put  their  talents  and  their  virtues  to  a 
trial  lefs  fevere  ;  and  ]et  them  remember,  that  after 
all  which  has  been,  or  may  be  faid,  in  praife  of  the 
few  who  have  aded  wifely  and  well  upon  the  public 
theatre,  to  the  generality,  "  the  pod  of  honour,  is  a 
private  ftation.*' 


Hiftory 


f»  ■  "'  '    '       ■  ■  •      '       '         ■ ■■* 


Hiftory  of  Deborah. 


LECTURE      Hi. 

JUDGES  iv.   21 23. 

Then  Jael,  Heber*s  wife,  took  a  mil  of  the  tent,  and  fdok 
an  hanuner  in  her  hand,  and  went  foftlj  unto  hijn,  and 

fmote  the  nail  into  his  temples,  and  fajiened  it  into  the 
ground:  (for  he  was faji  aJJeep,and  weary)  fo  he 
died.  And  behold,  as  Bardk  purfued  Sifera,  yael  came 
out  to  meet  him,  and  faid  unto  him.  Come,  and  I  will 

fjew  thee  the  man  'Whom  thoufeekeji.  And  when  he 
came  into  her  tent,  behold,  Sifera  lay  dead,  and  the  nail 
was  i?i  his  temples.  So  God  fubdued  on  that  day  'Jabin 
the  king  of  Canaan  before  the  children  dflfrael. 

W  HEN  we  confider  how  frequent,  how  violent ,  and 
how  fudden  are  the  tranfitions  from  condition  to  con- 
dition in  human  life,  pride  appears  to  be  a  myftery  of 
folly,  below  contempt.  To  l3ehold  a  rational  being 
affuming  confequence  on  an  empty,  unmeaning  title ; 
or  from  the  polleffion  of  a  little  wealth,  that  bird  of 
paflage,  eternally  on  the  wing ;  or  from  beauty  and 
ilrength,  which  accident  or  difeafe  may  blaft  in  a  mo- 
ment, and  which  the  lapfe  of  a  very  few  years  certain- 
ly will  impair  ;  to  behold  a  man  putting  confidence  in 
princes,  or  feeding  on  the  applaufe  of  a  multitude  ;  to 
hear  him  faying  to  himfelf,  *'  Soul,  take  thy  reft  ; 
thou  huft  much  goods  laid  up  for  many  years."    "  My 

mountain 


Lect.  hi.  Hijiory  of  Deborah,  4^ 

mountain  flandeth  flrong ;  I  fhall  never  be  moved.'* 
All  this  is  calculated  to  excite  derifion,  not  refentment ; 
and  when  reafon  and  experience  ponder  what  the  end 
may  be,  anger  fmks  into  pity.  Not  only  is  frail  man. 
every  moment  at  the  mercy  of  a  Being,  almighty  to 
fave  and  to  deflroy  ;  but  the  proudeft  and  mightiefl  is 
every  moment  in  the  power  of  the  weakeft  and  mean-, 
eft  of  his  fellow-creatures.  The  tongue  of  the  wretch 
whom  thou  defpifeft,  may  ruin  thy  reputation  for  ever. 
The  crawling  infect  in  thy  path  is  armed  with  deadly 
poifon  againft  thy  Hfe.  That  nodding  wall  threatens 
to  cruih  thee  to  pieces.  Arm  thee  at  all  points,  as 
well  as  thou  canft,  malice  or  hatred,  envy  or  revenge 
will  ftill  find  fome  part  unguarded  ;  and,  bleeding  to 
death,  thou  (halt  find  thou  wert  not  invulnerable, 

Thofe  who  are  diftinguifhed  by  their  rank,  their 
abilities,  or  their  virtues,  attrad  the  notice  of  many 
obfervers,  and  create  to  themfelves  many  open  and 
many  more  fecret  enemies.  The  hiftory  of  Sifera,  the 
captain  of  the  hoft  of  Jabin,  king  of  Canaan,  is  a 
flriking  illuftration  of  mod  of  thefe  remarks.  In  him, 
we  fee  a  man  rendered  infolent  by  fuccefs,  intoxicat- 
ed with  profperity,  betrayed  into  difgrace  through  con- 
fidence of  vidory,  the  dupe  of  confidence  in  his  own 
ftrength,  and  then  the  victim  of  confidence,  equally  un- 
wife,  in  the  fidelity  and  attachment  of  a  ftranger.  We 
behold  him  in  the  morning,  advancing  to  the  unequal 
conflict  at  the  head  of  a  mighty  and  hitherto  invinci- 
ble hoft ;  in  the  evening,  a  bleeding  corpfe,  fallen  in- 
glorioufly  by  the  hand  of  a  woman. 

Deborah,  the  prophetefs  of  Ifrael,  having  transfufed 
the  patriotic  ardour  of  her  foul  into  Barak,  not  only 
direds  him  what  he  fhould  do,  but  offers  herfelf  as  the 
companion  of  the  expedition  which  flie  had  planned. 
With  ten  thoufand  men  of  the  tribes  of  Zebulun  and 
Naphtali  under  his  command,  Barak  takes  poifefTion 
of  Mount  Tabor,  meaning  to  act  only  on  the  defen- 
five,  till  Provid^^nce  fhould  point  out  an  occafion  of  act- 
ing to    advantage.      The  rafhnefs  and  impctuofity  of 

Sifera 


46  Hijiory  of  Deborah,  Lect.  III. 

Sifera  loon  prefented  him  with  luch  an  opportunity. 
Enraged  to  think  that  an  enemy  fo  often  difcomfited, 
io  long  oppreiTed,  fo  broken  by  calamity,  fhould  pre- 
fume  to  make  head  againft  their  lordly  mailers,  he  col- 
lefts  the  whole  of  his  vaft  ftrength,  and  inverts  the 
mountain,  determined  to  crufh  the  puny  infurreclion 
at  one  blow. 

The  fagacious  judge,  and  divinely  infpired  prophet- 
efs  of  Ifrael,  obicrves  the  feafon  to  be  favourable,  bb- 
ferves  that  the  unwieldy  army  of  the  Canaanites  was 
ready  to  fall  in  pieces  by  its  own  weight,  that  their 
vain  confidence  was  deftroying  them,  and  that,  above 
all,  Heaven  was  propitious.  She  gives  the  fignal  of 
attack,  and  lo,  "  one  chafes  a  thoufand,  and  ten  put 
ten  thoufand  to  flight."  The  caufe  was  of  God,  and 
it  profpers :  and  the  mighty  hand  and  out-ftretched 
arm  of  Jehovah,  once  more  afl'erts  Ifrael  into  liberty. 
Whatever  praife  is  to  be  alcribed  to  the  conduct  of 
Barak  on  this  occafion,  and  to  the  intrepidity  of  his 
little  army,  it  is  evident,  from  fome  expreffions  in  the 
fong  of  praife,  compofed  in  celebration  of  the  viftory, 
that  the  defeat  of  the  Canaanites  was  in  part,  at  leait, 
miraculous.  "  They  fought  from  heaven."  "  The 
flars  in  their  courfes,"  it  is  faid,  "  fought  againft  Sife- 
ra." By  "  the  liars"  fome  interpreters  underfland 
"  the  angels  of  God,*'  who  are  fometimes  defigned  by 
that  name.  Jofephus  takes  the  v/ords  in  a  different 
fenie,  and  aflirms,  that  an  extraordinary  dorm  of  rain, 
inixed  with  hail,  bUnded  the  eyes  of  the  Canaanites, 
and  drove  back  their  darts  upon  their  own  heads.  The 
Rabbins,  with  dill  lefs  appearance  of  probability,  al- 
lege, that  certain  conftellations  of  a  peRilential  influ- 
ence, confumcd  the  army  of  Sifera,  burnt  them  up 
with  thirfl,  and  drove  them  for  refrcOiment  to  the 
brook  Kifhon,  Vvhere  they  were  m.et  in  a  languid,  en- 
feebled Itate,  by  the  troops  of  Deborah  and  Barak, 
and  put  to  the  fword.  The  expedition  from  firft  to 
laft,  was  without  controverfy  conducted  and  crowned 
by  the  hand  of  Providence-.     Hut  the  narration  of  the 

event. 


Lhct.  III.  liijiory  of  Deborah.  j^y 

event,  on  the  facred  page,  is  too  general  and  concife, 
to  enable  us  to  pronounce  with  confidence,  where  the 
province  of  human  fagacity  and  valour  ended  ;  and 
where  the  interpofition  of  Heaven  began. 

However  it  v.'ere,  the  victory  was  complete  ;  the 
enemy  was  totally  routed  and  put  to  the  edge  of  the 
fword  ;  the  commander  in  chief  alone  efcapes  the 
universal  carnage  of  the  field  ;  and  he,  who  a  little 
before  had  nine  hundred  chariots  of  iron  at  his  difpof- 
al,  fees  himfelf  flripped  of  all,  and  is  conftrained  to 
ccnfult  his  fafety  by  flight.  A  prince  without  fub- 
jects,  and  a  general  v^^ithout  an  army,  fhrink  into  poor, 
wretched,  folitary  individuals,  the  more  to  be  pitied, 
from  the  giddy  height  whence  they  have  fallen. 

The  hiitory  drops  the  myriads  which  compofed  the 
army  of  Sifera,  into  a  filent  grave  ;  and  purfues  the 
fad  tale  of  the  unhappy  man  himfelf  up  to  his  tragical 
death.  Seeing  his  army  flaughtered  and  put  to  flight, 
and  himfelf  in  danger  of  falling  into  the  hands  of  tri- 
umphant Ifrael,  he  alights  from  his  chariot,  and  flees 
away  on  foot.  "  How  are  the  mighty  fallen,  and  the 
weapons  of  war  perifhed  !'*  What  a  fad  reverie,  with- 
in the  compafs  of  one  fhort  day  !  And  to  fuch  reverfes, 
human  life  is  eternally  hable.  The  greateft  of  unin- 
fpired  bards  has  put  this  paffionate  exclamation  in  the 
mouth  of  a  dethroned  monarch  of  our  own  country, 
addrciFrng  himfelf  to  his  few  wretched  attendants,  the. 
poor  remains  of  his  departed  ftate  : 

Cover  your  heads,  and  mock  not  Hefh  and  blood 
With  folemn  reverence  ;  throw  away  refpcft. 
Tradition,  form,  and  ceremonious  duty. 
For  you  have  but  miftook  me  all  this  while  : 
I  live  on  bread  like  you,  feel  want,  tafte  grief, 
Need  friends  : — Subjected  .'hus. 
How  can  you  fay  to  me — I  am  a  king. 

Shakespeare. — Kintr  Richard  II. 

o 

Behold  the  mighty  Sifera  weary  and  faint  with  thirft, 
i^ithout  one,  of  fo  many  thoufands,  to  aiiift  or  comfort 

his 


48  Hi/lory  of  Deborah,  Lect.  Ill, 

his  flight,  feeking  refuge  from  his  purfuers  in  the  tents 
of  an  allied  power,  Heber  the  Kenite. 

By  looking  back  to  the  book  of  Numbers,  chap, 
X.  we  find  that  Hobab,  the  fon  of  Raguel  or  Jethro, 
the  father-in-law  of  Mofes,  had  left  hia  native  rcfi- 
dence,  to  attend  the  camp  of  Ifrael  as  their  guide 
tjirough  the  wildernefs,  and  had  been  perfuaded  by 
Mofes,  his  brother-in-law,  to  call  in  his  lot  among 
that  people,  upon  a  folemn  aflurance,  that,  on  their 
fettlement  in  Canaan,  he,  and  his  family,  and  defcend- 
ants,  fhould  fhare  in  the  fruits  of  vidory,  and  obtain  a 
portion  in  the  land  promifed  to  the  children  of  Abra- 
ham. This  accounts  for  our  fmding  them  eflablifhed, 
at  fuch  a  diftance  of  time,  in  the  border  of  Kedefh 
Naphtali.  On  the  invafion  of  the  country,  however, 
by  Jabin,  king  of  Canaan,  we  find  them  obferving  a 
ftri£t  neutrality.  "  There  was  peace  between  Jabin 
the  king  of  Hazor,  and  the  houfe  of  Heber  the  Ken- 
ite."* In  the  confidence  of  this,  Sifera  betakes  him- 
felf  to  the  Kenite  for  protection  ;  and  is  received  by 
Jael,  the  wife  of  Heber,  with  every  mark  of  humani- 
ty and  refped:,  due  to  a  great  man,  and  a  friend,  in 
diftrefs.  She  brings  him  milk  to  quench  his  thirft, 
covers  him  carefully  up  in  her  own  tent  to  repofe  him- 
felf  from  the  vexation  and  fatigue  of  that  difaftrous 
Jay,  and  to  conceal  him  from  the  purfuit  of  Barak, 
She  promifes  inviolably  to  keep  fecret  the  place  of  his 
concealment  ;  and  relying  on  that  promife,  weary 
and  worn  out,  he  falls  into  a  profound  lleep.  Jael 
avails  herfelf  of  his  defencclefs  fituation,  and  feizing 
fuch  arms  as  were  at  hand,  a  hammer  and  one  of  the 
pins  or  nails  ufed  in  flretching  out  the  tent,  fhe  tranf- 
lixes  the  head  of  the  unhappy  fleeper  as  he  lay  along, 
and  with  redoubled  blows  faftens  the  bleeding  tem- 
ples to  the  ground. 

Such  was  the  inglorious  end  of  a  man,  on  whom 
that  morning's  fun  had  rifen  with  a  fmiling  afpecl  ; 
who  awoke  from  ileep  in  the  pofTellion  of  ail  that  roy- 
al 
*  Verfe  17. 


Lect.  III.  Hijiory  of  Deborah,  49 

al  favour  could  beftow,  all  that  fovereign  power  could 
compel,  all  that  flattering  hope  could  promife.     Of 
the  motives  which  could  impel  Jael  to  fuch  a  deed  of 
horror,   we  have  no  information.      Her  conduct,  we 
know,  is  celebrated  in  the  Song  of  Deborah   in  terms 
of  the  ftrongeft  approbation  ;  which  obliges  us  to  con- 
clude, that  there  are  circumftances  in  the  ftory,  which 
the  Spirit  of  God  has  not  thought  proper  to  difclofe. 
The  great  Jehovah  needs  not  a  vindication  of  his  con- 
duft,  from    the  labour   and  ingenuity  of  a  wretched, 
ignorant  mortal.      He  has  but  to  difcover  a  few  little 
particulars,  which  are  as  yet  hid  from  our  eyes  ;  and. 
then,  what  now  confounds  and  overwhelms  our   un- 
derftanding,  becomes   clear    and    intelligible   to    the 
meanefl  capacity.      Inftead,   therefore,  of  vainly  and 
prefumptuoufly  attempting  to  reconcile  this  a6lion  of 
Jael  with  the  laws  of  morality,  which,  by  the  glimmer- 
ing light  we  have,  is  impoffible,  we  fhall  make  a  few 
obfervations  on  the  hiftory,  of  a  general  and  practical 
nature.     And 

I.  We  repeat,  what  has  been  already  fuggefted, 
*' that  human  reafon  is  a  very  incompetent  judge  of 
divine  proceeding.'*  We  know  fo  little,  fo  very  little 
of  the  fyftem  of  nature  ;  our  own  conftitution  is  fuch 
an  inexplicable  myflery  to  ourfelves  ;  we  meet  every 
where  fo  many  difficulties,  contradiftions,  defefts, 
redundancies  ;  at  lead  we  take  upon  us  to  think  and 
call  them  fo,  as  mud  lead  us  to  this  conclufion,  that, 
cither  the  work  of  God  is  imperfect ;  or  that  we 
cannot  find  out  him  and  his  work  unto  perfection. 
Now  the  little  reafon  we  have  cannot  hefitate  an  in- 
ftant  in  choofing  its  fide  of  this  alternative.  And  if 
we  confefTedly  are  unqualified  to  judge  of  that  which 
is  lefs,  dare  we  prefume  to  pronounce  concerning 
that  which  is  greater.  If  the  volume  of  nature,  fpread 
open  to  the  perufal  at  once  of  our  fenfes  and  our  rea- 
fon, prefent  many  things  not  only  hard,  but  impoili- 
ble  to  be  underflood,  can  we  deem  ourfelves  qualified, 
or  entitled  to  explain,  to  juftify,  or  to  arraign  the 
Vol.  VL  D  more. 


50  Hijlory  of  "Deborah,  Lect.  III. 

more  dark  and  myfterions  ways  of  Providence  ?  And 
which  is  the  greater  pride  and  prefumption,  that 
which  is  forever  "  charging  God  fbolifhly/*  or  that 
which  fets  itfelf  up,  as  the  bold  interpreter  and  allift- 
ant  of  eternal  wifdom  and  julHce  ?     Obferve 

II.  An  obvious  reaion,  why  thefe  difficulties  are 
permitted  in  the  frame  of  nature,  the  conduct  of  Prov- 
idence, and  the  revelation  of  the  grace  of  God.  It  is, 
to  form  us  to  fubmiffion,  to  exercife  our  patience,  to 
fix  our  attention,  to  whet  our  induftry,  to  reprefs  our 
boldnefs,  to  increafe  and  confirm  our  confidence  in 
God.  It  is  a  mark  of  refpe£t  to  fuperior  wifdom  and 
virtue,  not  always  to  require  an  explanation,  but  to 
repofe  implicit  trufl  in  knov/n  goodnefs  and  integrity. 
A  wife  man  in  the  confcioufnefs  of  his  own  re^bitude, 
difdalns  to  acknowledge  the  obligation  of  clearing  up 
his  condud  to  every  prating  meddler,  who  may  think 
proper  to  call  him  to  account ;  and  who  has  neither  a 
right,  nor  a  capacity  to  judge  of  his  motives.  And 
fhall  we  withhold  from  our  Maker  that  decent  re- 
fpe€t  v/hich  we  fo  cheerfully  pay  to  a  falUble,  imper- 
fed  fellow-creature  ?  Shall  we  refufe  to  take  the  God 
of  truth  upon  his  word  ?  Shall  we  think  it  much  if  in 
fome  cafes  he  exad  belief,  without  his  vouchfafing  to 
affign  a  reafon  ?  "  Why  doft  thou  drive  againft  him  ? 
He  giveth  not  account  of  any  of  his  matters."  *  Our 
facred  bard  has  fublimely  expreffed  this  noble  fenti- 
ment,  drawn  from  the  volume  of  infpiration.  Con- 
fidering  the  divine  providence  under  the  image  of  a 
vaft  fealed-up  book,  chained  to  the  eternal  throne, 
containing  the  character,  the  revolutions,  the  deftina- 
tion  of  angels  and  men,  but  clofed  to  the  infpedtion 
of  every  created  eye.     We  obferve, 

III.  That  it  is  doing  the  grofleft  injuftice  to  the 
wife  and  righteous  Governor  of  the  world,  to  fuppofe 
him  in  every  point  approving  the  perfon,  or  the  con- 
duct by  which  he  carries  on  his  great  defigns.  Cyrus 
and  Nebuchadnezzar  are  ftyled  the  fervants  of  God, 

though 

*  Job  xxxiii.  15. 


LacT.  IIL  Hijiary  of  Deborah.  5 1 

though  the  on€  knew  him  not,  and  the  other  openly- 
defied  him.  The  rod  which  he  condefcendeth  to  ufe, 
for  the  chaftifement  of  difobedient  and  gainfaying 
children,  when  their  reformation  is  accompliflied,  he 
often  breaks  and  dafhes  on  the  ground.  Every  in- 
ilrument  he  employs  mufl  neceflarily  partake  of  hu- 
man imperfed:ion  ;  but  it  follows  not  that  he  is  pleaf- 
ed  with  imperfeftion.  The  devices  of  Satan  himfelf 
iliall  in  the  iffue  redound  to  the  glory  of  God,  as 
*'  the  wrath  of  man  mufl  praife  him  ;"  but  that  wrath 
is  hateful  to  his  nature,  and  thofe  devices  his  wifdom 
Gounterads,  and  hisjujftice  condemns.  We  are  not 
therefore  to  miftake  the  patriotic  ardour  of  a  female 
Ifraelitifti  bard,  for  the  calm,  the  merited  applaufe  of 
the  God  of  mercy  and  truth.  I  can  ealily  conceive 
the  perfon,  whom  national  partiality,  relentment  or 
gratitude  would  celebrate  in  ftrains  of  admiration,  to 
be  regarded  with  abhorrence  by  the  Father  of  mercies, 
the  avenger  of  falfehood,  the  refuge  of  the  miierable. 
And  while  Ifraelltifli  Deborah,  in  the  heat  of  her  zeal, 
makes  the  eulogium  of  a  woman  fo  unlike  herlelf, 
and  ftyles  Jael,  the  wife  of  Heber,  who  murdered  her 
ileeping  gueft,  "  bleffed  above  women,"  why  may  not 
a  chriftian  Dorcas,  a  woman  of  mercy  and  humanity, 
**  a  woman  full  of  good  works,  and  alms  deeds,"  un-» 
der  the  mild  and  gentle  influence  of  that  religion 
which  Ihe  believes,  feels  and  praftifes,  reprobate  the 
cruel  and  perfidious  a£t,  and  its  author,  in  terms  of 
the  fevereft  indignation  ?  Indeed,  the  conduft  of  Jael, 
coniidered  by  itfelf,  is  a  horrid  complication  of  all 
that  is-  bafe  and  deteflable  in  human  nature  ;  an  infa- 
mous violation  of  facred  truth  ;  a  daring  infringement 
of  the  law  of  nature  and  nations ;  a  flagrant  breach 
of  the  laws  of  hofpitality,  which  the  mod  favage  na- 
tures and  nations  have  refpe6led  as  facred ;  the  vilell 
degradation  of  her  charader  as  a  woman ;  the  mod 
barbarous  exhibition  of  a  little  mind,  enjoying  the 
triumph  over  unfufpeding  credulity,  and  defencelefs- 
1)  2  ^  mifery^ 


52  Iliftory  of  Deborah*  Lect.  IIL 

mifery.     "^  Curfed  be  her  anger,  for  It  was  fierce,  and 
her  wrath  for  it  was  cruel."     Obferve, 

IV.  Into  what  dreadful  extremes  we  impetuoufly 
rufli,  when  the  radical  principles  of  our  nature  are 
once  fubdued.  Time  muft  have  been,  that  the  idea 
of  fliedding  the  blood  of  another,  would  have  chilled 
the  blood  in  Jael's  veins.  What  mud  it  have  cod 
her,  to  overcome  the  timidity,  the  tendernefs,  the 
compalTion  of  her  fex  I  But  being  overcome,  lo,  each 
gentle,  feminine  palTion  is  lulled  aileep ;  and  frantic 
zeal,  or  demoniac  revenge  alone  is  awake.  Ah  me, 
what  beafl  of  prey  fo  favage  and  unrelenting,  as  a  hu- 
man being  deilitute  of  pity  !  Ah  me,  how  eafily  the 
bed  things  degenerate  into  the  v^^orfl !  Of  what  im- 
portance is  it,  to  guard  againfl  the  firlt  deviation  from 
the  fimple  and  dire6t  path  i  Who  can  promife  for 
himfelf,  that  he  fhall  ftop,  return,  and  regain  the  right 
road,  when  he  pleafes  ?  Obferve, 

V.  That  the  rarity  of  the  inftances,  the  peculiarity 
of  the  fituations,  and  the  Angularity  of  the  fpirit  and 
conduft,  apparent  in  the  female  chara£ters  here 
brought  into  public  view,  forbid,  by  more  than  a  pof- 
itive  law,  female  interference  in  matters  of  bufmefs 
and  of  government.  Believe  me,  my  fair  friends,  it 
is  not  (tripping  you  of  your  juft  importance,  it  is  in- 
creafmg  and  fecuring  it,  to  fay,  the  fhade  is  your  na- 
tive, your  proper  ftation  :  it  is  there  you  fliine,  it  is 
there  you  are  ufeful,  it  is  there  you  are  refpeftable. 
Your  heart  and  your  underflanding  affent  to  the 
truth  of  it.  Is  there  a  woman  among  you,  who 
would  not  prefer  in  obfcurity,  the  affe£lion  of  her 
hufband,  the  attachment  and  gratitude  of  her  chil- 
dren, the  eftimation  and  refped  of  her  friends,  to  all 
the  public  fplendour  of  Deborah's  magifterial  power, 
and  prophetic  fpirit ;  to  all  the  blufliing,  empurpled 
honours  of  Jael's  more  than  mafculine  refentment  ?  It 
is  not  your  want  of  talents  for  government  we  difpute  5 
it  is  the  fuitablenefs  of  government  to  your  talents, 
your  natural  difpofitions,  your  real  honour  and  happl- 

nefs. 


Lect.  III.  Hytory  of  Deborah.  ^^ 

ners.     A  wife  and  good  woman  never  can  defire  to  be- 
come  the  object  of  univerfal  admiration,  nor  the  fub- 
jeQ:  of  every  one's  difcourfe.     If  you  aim  at  fo  much, 
depend  upon  it,  you  will  loofe  fomething  of  what  you 
have,  and  what  is  infinitely  better  than  all  the  incenfe 
of  flattery,  than  all  the  fonnets  of  a  thoufand  poetic 
fwains.     In  the  hiflory  of  our  own  country,  the  reigns 
of  two  female  fovereigns  fliine  with  confpicuous  luf- 
tre.     They  were  periods  of  great  national  profperity 
and  glory.     But  the  weakeft  of  women  would   not 
furely  thence  infer,  that  the  fceptrc  ought  always  to  be 
committed  to  female  hands.     With  all  due  deference 
to  the  memory  of  an  Elizabeth  and  an  Anne,  and  the 
general  felicity  which  their  adminiftration  diffufed  over 
the  land  ;  Great-Britain  can  look  with  pride  and  ex- 
ultation to  a  Queen,  whofe  perfonal  glory  and  virtues 
far  exceed  theirs.     Not  a  fovereign  indeed,  but  a 
partner  of  the  throne  :  who  Ihines  in  reafon's  eye,  be- 
caufe  Ihe  aife6ts  not  to  fhine  ;  reigns  over  willing 
hearts,  becaufe  (he   difclaims  all  rule  ;  is   great  and 
blefled  among  women,  becaufe   (he  nobly   fmks  the 
princefs  in  the  woman,  the  wife,  the  mother  and  the 
friend. 

"We  encroach  no  farther  on  your  patience,  by  ex- 
tending our  obfervations  on  the  fubject.  And  the 
rather,  as  a  review  of  the  fong  of  Deborah,  compofed 
on  this  memorable  occafion,  will,  if  God  permit, 
bring  it  again  before  us,  and  plac^  female  genius  in 
our  eye,  in  a  new,  and  not  unpleafmg  point  of  light ; 
uniting  poetic  and  mufical  fkill  to  fervent  devotion,  he-r 
roic  intrepidity,  and  prophetic  infpiration.  A  combi- 
nation how  rare,  how  inftrudive,  how  refpedlable ! 


Hiftory 


:■) 


Hiftory  of  Deborah. 


LECTURE        IV. 


JUDGES  V.   I 5. 

Then  fang  Deborah,  and  Barak,  the/on  of  Abinoa7H,  cp 
that  day,  faying,  Fraife  ye  the  Lord  for  the  avenging  cf 
Ifrael,  when  the  people  willingly  offered  themfelves. 
Hear,  Oye  kings  ;  give  ear,  0  ye  princes  :  I,  even  I  will 
fing  unio  the  Lord  ;  I  will  fing  praife  to  the  Lord  God 
of  Ifrael.  Lord,  when  thou  wentejt  out  of  Seir,  when 
thou  marchedft  out  of  the  field  of  Edo)n,  the  earth  trem- 
bled, and  the  heavens  dropped,  the  clouds  alfo  dropped 
water.  The  mountains  melted  from  before  the  Lord, 
even  that  Sinai  from  before  the  Lord  God  of  IfraeL 

1  O  fome  it  is  the  gift  of  Heaven,  to  perform  adions 
worthy  of  being  recorded ;  to  others  it  is  given,  to 
preferve  the  memory  of  illuftrious  adions,  in  writings 
worthy  of  being  read.  To  both,  the  world  is  under 
great  obligations,  and  gratefully  permits  the  hiftorian 
or  the  poet,  to  divide  the  palm  with  the  hero,  or  the 
fage,  whom  they  celebrate.  To  the  writer,  perhaps, 
the  more  ample  Ihare  of  praife  is  due.  The  achieve- 
ments of  valour  and  ftrength  are  local  and  temporary. 
They  benefit  but  a  fev/,  and  quickly  fpend  their  force. 
But  the  hiftoric  and  poetic  page,  more  durable,  more 
^iffufed,  and  more  confpicuous  than  monuments  of 
orafs  ^ud  marble,  is  an  uniyerfal  and  a  perpetual  bleiT- 
'V  ing 


Lect.  IV.  Hl/iory  -of  Debar  ah.  ^5; 

ing  to  mankind  ;  conveying  fo  diftant  nations  and 
lateft  pofterity  harmlefs  pleafure  blended  with  whole- 
fome  inflruftion. 

On  a  favoured  few  has  been  conferred  the  combin- 
ed glory  of  ading  nobly,  and  v/riting  well ;  of  ferving 
their  own  day  and  generation  with  credit  to  themfelves 
and  advantage  to  their  country,  and  of  tranfmitting 
ufeful  information  to  regions  remote  and  generations 
unborn.  On  the  lift  of  thofe  illuftrious  few,  ftand^ 
with  diflinguiflied  honour,  the  name  of  Deborah,  the 
judge,  the  prophetefs,  the  fweet  finger  of  Ifrael ;  and  it 
is  with  exultation  we  obferve  the  mod:  dignified,  ardu- 
ous and  important  ftations  of  human  life  filled  with 
reputation  by  a  woman  :  a  woman,  who  firft,  with 
refolution  and  intrepidity,  faved  her  country  in  the 
hour  of  danger  and  diftrefs,  and  ruled  it  with  wifdom 
and  equity  ;  and  then  recorded  her  own  achkyementa 
in  drains  which  muft  be  held  in  admiration,  fo  long 
as  good  tafte  and  the  love  of  virtue  exift  in  the 
world. 

Having  with  veneration  and  refpeft  attended  to  the 
equitable  decifions,  and  the  oracles  of  truth  whicli 
flowed  from  the  lips  of  the  female  feer  and  fage,  who 
fat  under  the  palm-tree  in  Mount  Ephraim  ;  and  ac- 
companied the  undaunted  heroine  to  the  top  of  Mount 
Tabor,  and  the  enfanguined  plains  waihed  by  the  ri\- 
er  of  Kilhon  ;  let  us  liften  v/ith  wonder  and  delight 
to  the  lofty  ftrains  of  the  female  bard,  and  join  our 
voices  in  the  burden  of  her  fong. 

This  fublime  poem  is  the  moft  ancient  that  exifts, 
two  excepted,  namely,  that  which  celebrates  the  mi- 
i-aculous  paflage  through  the  Red  Sea  ;  and  the  fweet- 
ly  fweUing  notes  of  the  dying  fwan  of  Ifrael.  It  is 
two  hundred  and  thirty-four  years  later  than  the  form- 
er, and  one  hundred  and  ninety-four  years  than  the 
latter  of  thefe  facred  compofitions  ;  but  it  is  four  hun- 
dred and  ten  years  older  than  Homer,  the  great  father 
of  heathen  poefy.  From  its  high  antiquity  therefore, 
v":'"e  there  nothing  elfe  to  recommend  it  to  notice,  it 


56  Hi/iory  of  Deborah,  Lect.  IV. 

is  mofl  refpeftable ;  but  from  its  antiquity  and  the 
very  nature  of  poetical  compofition,  it  mufl;  of  necef- 
fity  be,  in  fome  refpeds,  involved  in  difficulty  and 
obfcurity.  This  we  pretend  not  wholly  to  clear  up  or 
to  remove.  Initead  then  of  making  an  attempt  in 
which  we  fhould  probably,  perhaps  certainly  fail,  wc 
fhall  fatisfy  ourfelves  with  pointing  out  a  few  of  the 
more  obvious  and  ftriking  beauties  of  a  piece,  which 
all  will  allow  to  contain  many  and  ihining  excellen- 
cies. 

•  The  infcription  of  this  hymn  of  praife,  firft  chal- 
lenges our  notice.  "  Then  fang  Deborah,  and  Barak 
the  fon  of  Abinoam,  on  that  day,  faying.***  In  ex- 
hibiting the  charader  and  condud  of  this  truly  efti- 
mable  woman,  the  feminine  delicacy  and  referve  are 
never  dropped.  As  a  ruler  and  a  prophetefs  fhe  is 
introduced,  under  her  relative  character  of  the  wife 
of  Lapidoth.  As  the  leader  of  armies  to  battle,  and 
leader  in  the  mufical  choir  which  celebrated  the  vic- 
tories of  her  country,  fhe  is  reprefented  as  the  com- 
panion and  coadjutrix  of  Barak,  the  fon  of  Abinoam. 
She  was  undoubtedly  the  firft  woman  of  her  own, 
perhaps  of  any  age  ;  but  her  confequence,  in  place 
of  being  diminilhed,  is  increafed  and  fupported  by 
the  blending  of  private,  perfonal  worth  and  abiHty, 
with  the  relations  of  focial  life,  thofe  of  wife,  mother 
and  friend. 

Adam  might  exift  a  little  while  in  paradife,  before 
Eve  was  formed,  but  nature  and  reafon  and  religion, 
all  feem  to  declare,  that  woman  can  neither  comfort- 
ably nor  reputably  fubfift,  feparated  from  that  fide 
whence  fhe  was  originally  taken.  Who  will  deny, 
that  the  fuperiority  in  point  of  difcretion  and  under- 
ftanding  is  frequently  on  the  i\de  of  the  female  ?  But 
a  woman  forfeits  all  pretenfion  to  that  very  fuperiority, 
the  moment  fhe  aifumes  or  boafts  of  it.  Whether, 
therefore,  it  were  Deborah's  own  good  fcnfe,  and 
female  modefty,  which  preferred  appearing  in  a  con- 

neded, 
*  Verfe  i. 


LecT.  fV.  Hiftory  'of  Deborah.  57 

nefted,  to  appearing  in  a  folitary  ftate,  though  more 
flattering  to  vanity  ;  or  whether  the  Spirit  of  God,  in 
repreienting  the  moft  elevated  of  female  geniufes  in 
the  mod  elevated  of  fituations,  thought  proper  to 
point  her  out  as  connefted  and  dependent ;  the  fame 
lelTon  of  moderation,  diffidence,  delicacy  and  conde- 
fcenfion  is  powerfully  inculcated  :  and  her  fex  is  in- 
llrudled  where  their  true  dignity,  fafety,  honour  and 
comfort  he. 

The  time  is  marked,  when  this  triumphant  anthem 
was  firft  compofed  "and  fung.  "  On  that  day.**  It 
had  been  a  day  of  danger,  anxiety  and  fatigue  :  a  day 
of  vengeance  upon  the  infulting  foe,  a  day  of  mutual 
congratulation  and  rejoicing  ;  but  ill  had  Ifrael  de- 
ferved  fuch  a  viftory,  and  Ihamefully  had  Deborah 
improved  it,  if  either  the  emotions  of  joy  or  of  revenge 
had  excluded  thofe  of  gratitude  and  love.  The 
tongue  of  Deborah,  like  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer, 
didates  "  acceptable  words'*  to  the  thoufands  of  her 
people;  fhe  cannot  think  of  repofe,  till  the  evening 
Sacrifice  of  praife  be  offered  up,  and  from  the  abund- 
ance of  the  heart,  the  mouth  fpeaketh.  The  day 
which  the  arm  of  Omnipotence  had  diftinguifhed  by 
wonders  of  mercy,  mull  not  be  concluded  without 
fongs  of  deliverance.  From  "  the  confufed  noife  of 
the  warrior,  and  garments  rolled  in  blood,'*  the  foul 
turns  with  holy  joy,  to  the  acknowledgment  of  that 
"  right  hand  and  holy  arm  which  had  gotten  them 
the  viftory  :**  and  in  one  folemn  "  praife  ye  the  Lord" 
burfting  at  once  from  every  tongue,  every  redeemed 
IfraeHte  calls  upon  himfelf  and  upon  his  fellow  to 
give  unto  Jehovah  the  glory  due  unto  his  name. 

Here  the  fong  naturally  begins,  by  this  it  muft  be 
fupported,  and  in  this  it  muft  terminate.  All  crea> 
tures,  all  events  point  out  "  Him  firft,  Him  laft.  Him 
midft,  and  without  end.**     "  Praife  ye  the  Lord.'* 

But,  religion  is  "  a  reafonable  fervice."  The  di- 
vine effence  we  do  not,  we  cannot  know  ;  "  the  invifj- 
ble  things  of  God,*'   even  "  his  eternal  power  and 

deitv," 


^  Hi/iory  cf  DeboraB,  LecT.  tv. 

deity,"  are  to  be  difcovered  only  "  by  the  things 
which  he  has  made,"  and  the  things  which  he  doth. 
Here  then  the  fpirit  of  praife  immediately  fixes,  and 
the  recent  interpcfition  of  a  gracious  Providence  rifes 
inftantly  into  view  :  his  "  avenging  of  Ifracl,"  in  which 
Jehovah  is  acknowledged  as  at  once  juft  and  merciful : 
Juft,  in  recompenfing  tribulation  to  them  that  troub- 
led his  covenanted  church  and  people  ;  merciful  in 
giving  his  troubled  people  reft. 

Vengeance ;  the  vengeance  of  God !  Fearful 
thought!  but  oh,  it  is  fweetly  rcHeved,  by  the  reflec- 
tion, that  the  right  of  executing  vengeance,  is  claimed 
])y  the  God  of  mercy,  with  awful  propriet)'^,  as  his 
own.  This  dreadful  thunder  no  arm  but  his  own 
muft  prefume  to  wield  ;  "  Vengeance  is  mine,  I  will 
repay,  faith  the  Lord."  If  I  muft  be  punifhed,  "  let 
me  fall  nov/  into  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  for  his  mer- 
cies are  great :  and  let  me  not  fall  into  the  hand  of 
snan."  The  only  vengeance  permitted  to  man  is  a 
vengeance  of  kindnefs  and  forgivenefs ;  the  only  coals 
which  he  muft  fcatter,  are  the  coals  of  the  fire  of  love. 
"If  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed  him,  if  he  thirft,  give  him 
drink : — "  Be  not  overcome  of  evil,  but  overcome 
evil  with  good."  "  Love  your  enemies,  blefs  them 
that  curfe  you,  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you,  and 
pray  for  them  which  defpitefully  ufe  you  and  perfecute 
you  :  that  ye  may  be  the  children  of  your  Father 
which  is  in  heaven :  for  he  maketh  his  fun  to  rife  on 
the  evil  and  on  the  good,  and  fcndeth  rain  on  the  juft 
and  on  the  unjuft."* 

The  voluntary  actions  of  the  people  in  "  offering 
themfelves"  to  fight  their  own  battles,  are  with  fmgu- 
lar  beauty  afcribed  to  the  wifdom  and  goodnefs  of 
God  who  has  the  "  hearts  of  all  in  his  hand,"  and 
can  "  turn  them  which  way  foever  he  will."  He  who 
could  have  faved  by  miracles,  will  fave  by  means.  If 
there  be  a  fpirit  of  concord  to  refill  the  common  en- 
emy, it  is  of  the  Lord.     If  internal  diffenfion  aid  the 

enemy 
*  Matt.  r.  44,  45. 


IvE-^T^jIV.  Hijlory' of  Deborah.  5f 

enemy  without,  we  behold  a  righteous  God  infatuat- 
ing thofe  whom  he  means  to  deftroy. 

Having  thus  limply  propofed  the  glorious  fubjeft  of 
her  praile,  "  the  fweet  enthufiaft'*  prepares  to  unfold 
and  amplify  it.  She  throws  her  eyes  over  thp 
face  of  the  whole  earth :  views  all  nations  and  their 
potentates,  as  interefted  in  the  glowing  theme  ;  and 
(unmions  an  admiring  world  to  liften  to  her  fong. 
*'  Hear,  O  ye  kings ;  give  ear,  O  ye  princes  :  I,  even 
I  will  fmg  unto  the  Lord ;  I  will  hng  praife  to  the 
Lord  God  of  Ifrael."*  What  fo  deHghtful  to  a  grate- 
ful and  affedionate  heart,  as  the  enumeration  of  ben~ 
efits  received  !  What  benefactor  once  to  be  compared 
with  the  Giver  of  all  good,  "  the  Father  of  lights, 
from  whom  comcth  down  every  good  gift,  and  every 
perfea  !*' 

Having  propofed  hertheme  and  fummoned  her  augufl: 
audience,  the  divine  poetefs  feems  to  paufe  for  a  mo- 
ment, as  if  awed  by  the  prefence  of  fuch  a  fplendid  audi- 
ence, and  overwhelmed  with  the  magnitude  of  the  tafk 
fhe  has  undertaken,  and  with  renovated  ftrength,  aims 
her  flight,  hke  the  eagle,  up  to  her  native  fkies.  The 
deliverance  of  that  day,  brings  former  wonders  of 
mercy  to  mind ;  and  "  God,  the  fame  yefterday,  to- 
day and  forever,'*  is  feen  and  adored  in  all.  Inftead 
of  expatiating  on  the  goodnefs  of  the  Moft  High  in 
drains  addrefled  to  the  "  kings  and  princes"  whom  Ihe 
had  called  to  attend,  flie  rifes  at  once  to  "  Jehovah's 
awful  throne,"  lofes  all  fenfe  of  created  majcfty,  and 
lofes  herfelf  in  the  contemplation  of  infinite  perfedlion. 
"  Lord,  when  thou  wenteil  out  of  Seir,  when  thou 
marchedft  out  of  the  field  of  Edom,  the  earth  trem- 
bled, and  the  heavens  dropped,  the  clouds  alio  drop- 
ped water.  The  mountains  melted  from  before  the 
Lord,  even  that  Sinai  from  before  the  Lord  God  of 
Ifrael.^t 

The  former  part  of  this  animated  addrefs  probably 
refers  to  that  paifage  in  the  hiftory  of  Ifrael  which  we 

hiivc 

*  Verie  3^  t  Vcrfc  4,  5. 


6o  Hljhry  of  Deborah.  Lect.  IV. 

have  in  the  book  of  Numbers,  chap.  xx.  relating  to 
the  paflage  of  Tfrael  through  the  land  of  Idumea,  which 
was  humbly  and  peaceably  fohcited,  and  unkindly  re- 
fufed.  Of  this,  fome  particulars  might  have  been 
preferved  by  tradition  to  the  times  of  Deborah,  though 
not  admitted  into  the  facred  canon,  and  fuggefted  to 
her  the  lofty  expreflions  which  flie  here  employs  in 
celebrating  the  praifes  of  Ifrael's  God.  Though  he 
would  not  permit  them  to  force  a  paffage  by  the  fword, 
through  the  country  given  to  the  pofterity  of  Efau 
their  brother,  yet  in  guiding  them  round  the  confines, 
of  Idumea,  in  the  majeftic  fymbol  of  his  prefence,  the 
pillar  of  cloud  and  fire,  the  great  God  might,  by 
ibme  fenfible  tokens,  make  Edom  to  know,  it  was  not 
from  want  of  power,  but  of  inclination,  that  he  led 
his  people  in  a  circuitous  courfe.  The  language  of 
the  prophetefs,  diverted  of  its  bold  figurative  drefs,  is 
fimply  this,  "  The  wonders  of  this  day,  O  Lord,  recall 
and  equal  the  greatefl  wonders  of  ages  palt.  We 
-have  feen  the  ftars  in  their  courfes  fighting  againft  our 
enemies,  as  our  fathers  of  old  faw  mountain  and 
plain,  heaven  and  earth,  giving  teftimony  to  the  pref- 
ence and  favour  of  the  God  of  Ifrael.  The  field  of 
Edom  and  the  vale  of  Kiflion  are  equally  filled  with 
the  glory  of  the  Lord.  We  recognize  in  the  hand 
which  has  difcomfited  the  hofl  of  Sifera,  the  fame  al- 
nii2;htvDower  Vv'hich  rcflrained  the  Idumean,  and  con- 
duded  our  anceilors,  if  not  the  neareft,  certainly  the 
bed  road  to  Canaan." 

The  latter  part  of  the  addrefs  evidently  refers  to 
the  awful  folemnity  with  which  the  law  was  given 
from  Mount  Sinai ;  in  which  all  nature,  without  a 
figure,  bare  witnefs  to  the  prefence  and  power  of  na- 
ture's God.  "  The  earth  trembled,  the  hills  melted 
like  wax,"  the  face  of  heaven  v/as  covered  with  black- 
nefs  of  darknefs,  lightning  flaflied,  the  hoarfe  thun- 
der roared,  the  louder  and  more  dreadful  voice  of  the 
Eternal  drowned  its  tremendous  found,  men's  hearts 
fail  them  for  fear,  Mofes  quakes. 

What 


Lect.  IV.  Bijiory  of  Deborah,  Ct 

■What  matter  of  joy  to  Ifrael,  that  he  who  of  old 
had  thus  revealed,  his  fiery  law,  that  day,  that  tery 
day  had  come  riding  on  the  fwift  wings  of  the  wind 
for  their  falvation  !  To  fix  thefe  emotions  of  rifing 
gratitude  and  wonder,  the  bard  dexteroully  and  im- 
perceptibly Hides  into  a  review  of  the  recent  diilrefs 
and  mifery  of  her  unhappy  country  ;  diftrefs  yet  frefii 
in  every  one's  memory,  mifery  out  of  which  they  were 
'juft  beginning  to  emerge:  and  flie. takes  occafion  to 
pay  a  juft  tribute  of  relpedl  to  the  memory  of  a  great 
man,  whom  God  had  honoured  to  be  the  inftrument 
of  redemption  to  an  oppreffed  people. 

Thofe  who  are  themfelves  the  moft  deferving  of 
praife,  are  ever  the  moft  liberal  in  beftowing  it,  where 
it  is  due.  It  is  a  (lender  and  contemptible  merit 
which  feeks  to  fiiine  by  obfcuring,  concealing,  or  di- 
minifliing  the  worth  of  another.  Deborah  is  but 
the  more  eilimable,  for  the  frank  and  unreferved 
commendation  which  fhe  confers  on  departed  or  con- 
temporary virtue  and  talents.  "  In  the  days  of 
Shamgar,  the  fon  of  Anath,  in  the  days  of  Jael,  the 
high-ways  were  unoccupied,  and  the  travellers  walked 
through  by-ways.  The  inhabitants  of  the  villages 
ceafed,  they  ceafed  in  Ifrael,  until  that  I  Deborah 
arofe,  that  I  arofe  a  mother  in  Ifrael."*  What  a 
melancholy  pifture  have  we  here  of  a  ruined,  wretch- 
ed country  ^  By  means  of  oppreffion,  all  intercourfe  is 
interrupted  ;  commerce  is  languifhing  to  death  ;  life 
and  property  have  become  infecure  :  every  thing  dear 
-to  man  is  at  the  mercy  of  a  haughty  tyrant ;  ever  expof- 
ed  to  the  ravages  of  a  lawlefs  band  of  armed  ruffians  : 
the  fcanty  and  dejected  inhabitants  tremble  at  the 
found  of  their  own  feet,  at  the  fight  of  their  own  fliad- 
ow  ;  behold  them  ikulking  from  place  to  place,  ileal - 
ing  thromrh  by-ways,  to  carry  on  a  ftarved  and  preca- 
rious  traffic  ;  fuffering  much,  and  fearing  worfe. 

Ah,  little  do  we  refleft,  living  at  our  eafe,  enjoying 
the  bleffings  of  mild  and  equitable  government,  "fir- 


ting. 


*  Verfe    6, 


^i  Hijiory  of  Deborah.  LiCT.lV, 

ting  every  one  under  his  vine,  and  under  his  fig-tree, 
while  there  is  none  to  make  us  afraid  :"  little  do  we 
refled  on  the  mifery  and  tears  of  myriads  of  our  fel- 
low-creatures opprelTed,  and  there  is  none  to  help 
them  ;  whofe  cry  incefi'antly  riles  up  to  heaven,  but 
riles  in  defpair.  Think  v/hat  multitudes  of  the  bold 
and  hardy  Africans  are  yearly  driven  or  trepanned  in- 
to fervitude,  through  the  violence  or  craft  of  their 
own  countrymen,  or,  through  the  more  fierce  and 
unrelenting  principle  of  European  avarice,  which  has 
reduced  flavery  to  a  fydera,  has  invented  an  article  of 
commerce  which  God  and  nature  abhor,  and  concur 
to  prohibit ;  and  what  is  the  fubjed  of  the  infamous, 
impious  traffic  ?  the  fouls  and  bodies  of  men. 

Who  can  turn  his  eyes,  without  weeping  tears  of 
blood,  to  the  fertile  foil,  the  clement  air,  and  the  fim- 
ple,  harmlefs  inhabitants  of  the  eaftern  world,  and  ob- 
serve the  gifts  of  nature  perverted  into  a  curfe,  the 
goodnefs  of  Providence  thwarted,  by  the  curfed  lull  of 
power,  or  more  curfed  lull  of  wealth,  and  the  patient, 
uncomplaining  Anatic,  perifhing  for  hunger,  in  his 
own  luxuriant  domain :  and  the  Ganges  difgorging 
millions  of  fetid  corpfes  into  the  ocean,  the  corpfes  of 
wretches  who  died  for  lack  of  food,  to  purchafe  for  a 
{till  greater  wretch  an  empty  title,  and.  a  feat  among 
the  lawgivers  of  the  wifeft,  moft  polifhed  and  humane 
of  the  nations  of  the  weftern  world. 

Look  to  the  thin  and  fcanty  remains  of  the  popu- 
lous and  profperous  nations  of  the  fouthern  hemif- 
phere,  and  a  land  whofe  veins  are  gold,  and  its  moun" 
tains  filver,  of  which  Spanifh  cruelty  and  avarice  have 
been  conftrained  to  make  a  defert,  in  order  to  fecure 
the  poffeflion  of  it.  Behold  the  fullen,  dejeded  native 
tramphng  under  his  feet  gold  and  diamonds,  which  he 
dare  not  put  forth  his  hand  to  touch ;  and  reproach- 
ing Heaven  with  heaping  upon  him,  in  its  anger, 
treafures  which  have  attraded,  not  the  pious  zeat  and 
attention,  but  the  infernal  rage,  of  men  who  neverthe- 
lefs  dare  to  callthemfelves  chriftians. 

Behold 


LecT,  J^V.  Uiflory^  of  Dtborah.  63 

Behold  yet  again — No^  I  ficken  at  the  horrid  praf- 
ped — and  will  no  longer  encroach  upon  the  feelings 
of   humanity,   by  exhibiting  the  more  than  favage 
barbarity  of  fyftematic  cruelty  and  oppreffion.     God 
of  mercy,  put  a  fpeedy  end  to  thefe  horrors  !  afTert  thy 
offspring  into  liberty,  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  fons 
of  God.     Let  us  return  to  the  fvveet  raiflrefs  of  If* 
raelitifh  fong  ;  I  fee  her  warm,  and  rife  into  native, 
confcious  worth  and  importance :    and  honour  the 
lovely  pride,  the  honefl  vanity  of  the  female  patriot. 
"  The  inhabitants  of  the  villages  ceafed,  they  ceafed 
in  Ifrael,  until  that  I  Deborah  arofe,  that  I  arofe  a 
mother  in  Ifrael."  *     If  ever  there  were  ability,  if  ever 
there  wxre  fervices,  if  ever  there  were  an  occafion, 
which  could  warrant  felf-praife,  it  was  the  ability,  the 
public  fervices  of  Deborah,  and  the  glorious  occafion 
on  which  fhe  wrote  and  fung.     Shew  me  fuch  exer- 
tions for  the  public  good,  and  let  a  man,  let  a  woman 
be  as  vain  as  they  will,  and  let  atfeded  humility  and 
felf-denial  fay  what  they  will,  it  is  an  honourable  and 
laudable  ground  of  glorying,  that  God  has  made  us 
the  means  of  conveying  happinefs  to  others.     But  oc- 
cafions  of  doing  juflice  to  eminent,  public   female 
worth  fo  feldom  occur,  that  I  mufh  referve  to  mvfelf 
the  pleafure  of  accompanying  this  great  woman,  this 
more  than  princefs,  through  the  remainder  of  her 
fong,  in  another  Lefture. 

— Men  and  brethren,  we  are  furnifhed  with  3  much 
more  noble  fubjeft  of  praife — a  fubje£t  which  angels 
delight  to  celebrate  in  celellial  (trains — a  fubjeft  which 
carries  us  back  into  the  eternal  counfels  of  peace  "  be- 
fore the  world  was,**  which  carries  us  forward  to  th$ 
grand  coniuramation,  when  "  time  fhall  be  no  long^- 
cr  ^'*  when  "  the  ranfomed  of  the  Lord  (hall  return 
and  come  to  Zion  with  fongs,  and  everlafting  joy  upon 
their  heads  :**  when  "  they  fliall  obtain  joy  and  glad- 
i]iefs,  and  forrow  and  fighing  Ihall  flee  away."  Need 
\  point  out  the  era,  chriftians,  and  the  fpot,  and  the 

performers, 
*  Verfe  7. 


^4  HiJlQiy  of  Deborah,  Lkct.  IV. 

performers,  and  the  audience,  or  repeat  the  words  of 
the  lofty  theme  ?— "  There  were  in  the  fame  country 
ihepherds  abiding  in  the  field,  keeping  watch  over  their 
flock  by  night.  And  lo,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came 
upon  them,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  flione  round 
about  them :  and  they  were  fore  afraid.  And  the 
angel  faid  unto  them.  Fear  not :  for  behold  I  bring 
you  good  tidings  of  great  joy,  which  fliall  be  to  all 
people.  For  unto  you  is  born  this  day,  in  the  city  of 
David,  a  Saviour,  which  is  Chrill  the  Lord.  And 
this  ihall  be  a  fign  unto  you ;  ye  fjiall  find  the  babe 
M'rapped  in  fv/addling-clothes,  lying  in  a  manger.  And 
fuddenly  there  was  with  the  angel  a  multitude  of  the 
heavenly  holt  praifmg  God,  and  faying,  Glory  to  God 
in  the  highefl,  and  on  earth  peace,  good  will  towards 
men."*  Here  are  celebrated,  not  the  tranfient  interefts 
of  a  petty  tribe,  the  momentary  triumph  of  the  opprefT- 
ed,  and  the  downfall  of  the  oppreflbr ;  not  events 
which  have  long  ago  fpent  all  their  force,  and  left  no 
trace  behind  ;  but  the  broad,  unbounded,  permanent 
interefts  of  mankind  ;  the  triumph  of  "  the  love  of 
Chrift  which  paffeth  knowledge  ;"  of  "  the  peace  of 
God  which  palfeth  all  underftanding  :"  events  which 
extend  their  influence  into  eternity.  We  celebrate  "  the 
praifes  of  Him,  who  hath  called  us  out  of  darknefs  into 
his  marvellous  light" — of  God,  who  "  fo  loved  the 
world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whofo- 
cver  believeth  in  him  fliould  not  perilh,  but  have  ever- 
lafting  hfe."t — Of  "  Him  that  loved  us,  and  wafl^ied  us 
from  our  fins  in  his  own  blood,  and  hath  made  us 
kings  and  priefts  unto  God  and  his  Father,  to  him  be 
glory  and  dominion  forever  and  ever.  Amen:"| 
Of  Him  "  who,  through  death,  has  deftroyed  him  that 
had  the  power  of  death,  that  is  the  devil."  The 
burden  of  the  chriftian's  fong  is,  "  Salvation,"  falva- 
tion  begun,  going  on,  ready  to  be  accomphfhed. 
*'  The  kingdoms  of  this  world  are  become  the  king- 
doms 

*  Luke  ii.  8 — 14.  f  John  iii.  16. 

%  Rev.  \.  5,  6. 


Lect.  IV.  Hijfory  of  Deborah,  6^ 

dorus  of  our  Lord,  and  of  his  Chrift  j  and  he  (hall  reign 
forever  and  ever."* 

The  fong  of  Deborah  exhibits  av/ful  diftindions  be- 
tween man  and  man,  between  nation  and  nation  ; 
prefents  a  myftery  of  Providence,  which  human  un- 
der/landing endeavours  in  vain  to  trace  :  in  the  fong 
cf  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord,  all  diftindion  is  abolifh- 
ed  ;  it  prefents  a  myftery  of  grace  which  "  angels 
defire  to  look  into  ;"  it  is  in  full  harmony  fung,  by 
thofe  who  have  "  come  from  the  eaft  and  from  the 
weft,  from  the  fouth  and  from  the  north,  and  have  fat 
down  with  Abraham,  and  Ifaac,  and  Jacob  in  the  king- 
dom of  God  :"  where  the  fpirit  of  this  world  finds 
no  place,  and  its  differences  are  abforbed  of  the  "  fpir- 
it of  love  :  where  there  is  neither  Greek  nor  Jew,  cir- 
cumcifion  nor  uncircumcifion,  barbarian,  Scythian, 
bond  nor  free  ;  but  Chrift  is  all,  and  in  all."  Let 
thefe  refledions  be  pradically  improved,  in  conform- 
ity to  the  apoftolic  exhortation,  by  our  daily  learning 
to  "  put  on,  as  the  ele£t  of  God,  holy  and  beloved, 
bowels  of  mercies,  kindnefs,  humblenefs  of  mind, 
meeknefs,  long  fuffering  ;  forbearing  one  another, 
and  forgiving  one  another — and  above  all  thefe  things, 
put  on  charity,  which  is  the  bond  of  perfedtnefs.  And 
let  the  peace  of  God  rule  in  your  hearts."     Amen. 

*  Rev.  xi.  15. 


Vol.  VL  E  Hiftoi 


'■y 


Hiftory  of  Deborah. 


LECTURE      V. 


JUDGES    V.    12,   13. 

Awake,  azvake,  Deborah  :  awake,  awake,  utter  afong  t 
ar'ife,  Barak,  and  lead  thy  captivity  captive,  thou  f on  of 
Abinoam.  Then  he  made  him  that  remaineth  have 
dominion  over  the  nobles  among  the  people  :  the  Lord 
made  me  have  dominion  over  the  mighty. 

It  is  natural  for  man  to  look  forward  to  futurity  ; 
and  to  derive  a  part,  at  leaft,  of  his  felicity  and  im- 
portance from  the  eftimation  in  which  he  is  to  be  held 
by  pofterity.  He  knows  that  his  body  muft  foon  die, 
and  his  connexion  with  the  world  be  diflblved  ;  but 
he  flatters  himfelf  with  the  fond  hope,  that  his  name 
may  furvive  his  afhes,  and  that  his  memory  may  be 
cherifhed  and  refpefted,  though  his  perfon  be  loft  in 
the  grave,  and  fink  into  oblivion. 

When  this  anticipation,  and  defire  of  immortality, 
ferve  as  a  ftimulus  to  virtuous  exertion,  and  call  forth 
wifdom  and  goodnefs,  honourably  to  fulfil  their  day, 
the  love  of  fame  is  a  refpeftable  principle  in  the  individ- 
ual, becaufe  it  becomes  a  blefling  to  mankind.  But 
to  wade  to  the  temple  of  fame  through  a  fea  of  blood  ; 
to  extraft  "  the.  bubble  reputation"  from  widow's 
tears  and  the  groans  of  expiring  wretches,  is  worfe 
than  contemptible  j    it  is  deteftable,  it  is  monftrous. 

And, 


LscT.  V.  Hilary  of  Deborah.  6y 

And,  whatever  "national  partiality  and  prejudice  may 
have  done,  reafon  and  humanity  will  always  regard 
fuch  characters  as  Alexander  and  Caefar  with  abhor- 
rence, Itrip  them  of  their  ill-earned  glory,  and  ftigma- 
tize  their  names  to  the  lateil  generations,  as  the  ene- 
mies of  mankind. 

Thefpirit  of  patriotifm,  in  other  refpefts  noble  and 
excellent,  is  here  faulty,  pernicious,  and  worthy  of  the 
fevered  cenfure.  It  encroaches  on  the  facred  rights 
of  loving  kindnefs  and  tender  mercy.  It  encroaches  on 
the  more  facred  prerogatives  of  high  Heaven.  It  would 
make  the  God  of  the  fpirits  of  all  flefh,  a  party  in  the 
quarrels  of  two  petty  ftates,  and  force  the  great  inter- 
eits  of  an  univerfe  to  bend  to  the  caprice,  the  pride, 
the  ambition  or  revenge  of  fome  paltry  prince.  Hence, 
the  literary  monuments  of  all  nations,  exhibit  a  nar- 
row, illiberal,  ungenerous,  impious  fpirit.  The  war- 
like genius  of  Rome  acquired  the  afcendant  over  her 
rival  Carthage.  The  literary  genius  of  that  gallant 
people  aflumed  the  fuperiority  of  courfe  ;  and  Fu?nc 
perfidy,  barbarity  and  cowardice,  became  the  fubjedt 
of  proverbial  apothegms,  hiftorical  records,  and  poet- 
ical rhapfodies.  But  fuppofe,  for  a  moment,  the  fcales 
changed,  and  the  fate  of  Carthage  preponderating, 
and  we  fliould  have  had  this  whole  picture  reverfed  ; 
and  Roman,  not  Punic  faithlefsnefs,  cruelty  and  cow- 
ardice had  been  the  burden  of  the  fong,  and  the  ob- 
je£t  of  deteftation.  While  our  notes  of  triumph  rend 
the  vault  of  heaven,  crofs  that  brook,  look  forward 
from  the  fummit  of  that  little  hill,  where  we  are  cele- 
brating vidory  with  all  the  infolence  of  fuccefs,  and 
ereding  the  monumental  column  to  profperous  val- 
our, and  nought  is  to  be  feen,  but  fights  of  woe,  no 
voice  is  to  be  heard,  but  that  of  lamentation  and  de- 
fpair  J  while  angels,  from  yonder  fphere,  look  down 
with  pity  and  concern,  fuch  as  angels  feel,  on  both 
the  victor  and  the  vanquilhed.  "  The  broad  eye  of 
one  Creator,  takes  in  all  mankind  :  his  laws  expand 
the  heart  j"  and  the  ''  Te  Deum,"  which  angels  fm§^ 
E  a  witS 


68  Hiftory  of  Deborah/-^  Lect.  V. 

with  rapture,  is,  "  Glory  to  God  in  the  higheft,  and 
on  caith  peace,  good  will  towards  men." 

We  muft  carry  thefe  ideas  with  us  as  a  corredive 
to  the  vehemence  of  poetical  enthufiafm,  and  learn 
Hill  to  diftinguifli  between  the  rapturous  praife  and 
cenfure  of  a  female  patriot,  and  the  calm,  equitable, 
unbiaifed  applaufe  or  condemnation  of  unerring  wif- 
dom  and  eternal  juftice.  In  the  picture  of  human  na- 
ture here  fufpended  before  our  eyes,  we  behold  it,  as 
it  is,  not  what  it  ought,  in  all  refpedls,  to  be. 

Deborah  having  propofed  her  fubjeft,  in  plain  and 
fimple  terms,  in  the  fecond  verfe,  and  fummoned  the 
princes  and  potentates  of  the  earth  to  lillen  to  her 
fong-,  as  if  the  whole  world  were  interefted  in  the  event 
file  was  about  to  celebrate,  ilie  prefents  to  them  an  ob- 
jeft  fupremely  worthy  of  their  attention  and  rever- 
ence, namely,  the  great  Jehovah  marching  in  awful 
ftate  before  the  armies  of  his  people,  and  delivering  to 
them  his  dreadful  law  from  Sinai,  while  univerfal  na- 
ture bears  witnefs  to  the  prefence  of  the  Creator  and 
Lord  of  all.  "  The  earth  trembling,  the  mountains 
melting,  the  powers  of  heaven  fhaken." 

From  thence  llie  turns  a  weeping  eye  to  the  recent 
miferies  of  her  yet  bleeding  country,  and  fummons 
her  compatriots  to  gratitude  and  joy,  for  the  deliver- 
ance of  that  day,  from  the  recolledion  of  the  cruel 
reftraints  under  which  they  fo  lately  lived,  and  the 
calamities  which  they  endured  :  and  fhe  rifes  into 
holy  rapture  at  the  thought,  that  a  gracious  Providence 
had  not  only  wrought  falvation  for  his  people,  but 
made  her  the  bleffed  inftrument  of  effeding  it.  But 
jn  recalling  the  memory  of  former  evils,  in  order  to 
awaken  holy  joy,  fhe  fails  not  to  trace  thofe  evils  up 
to  their  proper  fource,  in  order  to  excite  holy  forrow 
and  contrition  ;  "  They  chofe  new  gods  ;  then  was 
war  in  the  gates :  was  there  a  fliield  or  fpear  ittn 
among  forty  thoufand  in  Ifrael  ?"  * 

The 
*  *  Verfe  8. 


L'ECT.  V.  Hi/iory  of  Dehomh.  69 

^rThe  great  objed  of  the  prophetefs  is,  to  imprefs  thi« 
everlafting  and  unchangeable  truth,  that  lui  is  the 
ruin  of  any  nation,  and  that  falvation  is  of  the  Lord. 
The  moment  a  new  god  is  fet  up,  behold  a  new  ene- 
my is  in  the  gate.  That  inftant  the  idol  is  pulled 
down,  the  hope  of  Ifrael  revives.  The  poetic  qucflion 
of  Deborah,  "  was  there  a  fhield  or  fpear  fcen  among 
forty  thoufand  in  Ifrael  V*  exprelfes  the  highefl  de- 
gree of  political  dejedtion  and  diftrefs  ;  and  reprefents 
the  infulting  foe,  as  not  only  filling  all  their  borders 
with  prefent  confternation,  but  alio,  undermining  all 
their  hope  for  the  time  to  come  ;  (hipping  them  of 
every  kind  of  armour  both  for  defence  and  atiack  ; 
to  fuch  a  degree,  that  not  one  man,  out  of  forty  thou- 
fand, was  furnifhed  for  the  field, 

A  Jewifh  Rabbin  *  has  given  a  turn  fomewhat  dif- 
ferent to  the  words  of  the  text,  and  not  an  abfurd  one. 
*'  Has  Ifrael  chofen  new  gods  ?  then  was  war  in  the 
gates.  Was  there  fhield  or  fpear  feen  among  forty 
thoufand  ?'*  that  is  to  fay,  "  From  the  time  that  Ifrael 
made  choice  of  ftrange  gods,  they  were  under  a  ne^ 
ceflity  of  maintaining  war  in  their  gates  ;  or,  of  fup- 
porting  a  Handing  army  for  defence  againft  the  inroads 
of  their  enemies.  But  now  that  you  offer  yourfelves 
willingly  to  the  Lord,  and  put  away  the  ftrange  gods 
which  are  among  you,  fee  whether  you  have  any  need 
of  fhield  or  fpear  againft  the  molt  formidable  and 
numerous  hofts  of  foes,  againft  the  thoufands  and 
forty  thoufands  of  Canaan  ?  No,  Jehovah  himfelf  is 
your  ftiield  and  buckler,  he  fights  your  battles.  Heav- 
en and  earth  combine  to  deftroy  the  adverfary,  the 
ftars  in  their  courfes  fought  againft  Sifera,  the  river 
Kifhon  fwallows  them  up.'* 

"  My  heart  is  toward  the  governors  of  Ifrael,  that 
offered  themfelves  wilHngly  among  the  people.  Blefs 
ye  the  Lord.  Speak,  ye  that  ride  on  white  afles,  ye 
that  fit  in  judgment,  and  walk  by  the  way.  They 
that  are  delivered   from  the  noife  of  archers  in  the 

places 
*  Sal.  Jarchi,  page  64. 


70  Hijfory  of  Debofab,  Lect.  V. 

places  of  drawing  water  ;  there  (hall  they  rehearfe  the 
righteous  afts  of  the  Lord,  even  the  righteous  ads  to- 
wards the  inhabitants  of  his  villages  in  Ifrael ;  then 
fliall  the  people  of  the  Lord  go  down  to  the  gates.*'  * 
That  we  may  enter  into  the  true  fpirit  of  the  patriotic 
bard,  let  us  fuppofe,  what  it  is  apparent  Ihe  has  in 
view,  namely,  leverally  to  addrefs  the  various  orders 
and  defcriptions  of  men,  whereof  the  Ifraelitifh  ftatc 
was  compoied,  and  who  had  each  a  pecuhar,  as  well 
as  a  common  intereft,  in  the  falvation  which  they  cele- 
brared.  She  begins  with  her  companions  in  the  war- 
fare, who,  roufed  by  her  exhortations,  and  a  fenfe  of 
their  country's  wrongs,  had  cheerfully  offered  them- 
feives  to  this  laborious  and  hazardous  fervice.  "  My 
heart  is  toward  the  governors  of  Ifrael,  that  offered 
therafelves  willingly  among  the  people.  Blefs  ye  the 
Lord."  t  They  befl  knew  how  little  was  due  to  hu- 
man fkill  and  valour,  how  much  to  the  gracious  and 
powerful  interpofition  of  Heaven  ;  let  them,  there- 
fore, lead  the  band,  and  afcribe  unto  Jehovah  the 
glory  due  unto  his  name.  She  next  turns  to  the  civil 
governors  and  judges  of  the  land,  and  invites  them  to 
contiaae  the  fong.  "  Speak,  ye  that  ride  on  white 
affes,  ye  that  fit  in  judgment,  and  walk  by  the  way."J 
Such  was  the  fimple  flate  in  which  the  rulers  of  Ifrael 
travelled  from  place  to  place,  adminiflering  juftice. 
The  ideas,  in  her  addrefs  to  them,  are  tender  and  pa- 
thetic, and  may  be  thus  extended,  "  Alas !  my  alfo- 
ciates  in  government,  it  was  but  yefterday,  that  we 
were  rulers  without  fubjefts,  judges  with  out  a  tribu- 
nal, and  without  authority  :  the  lives  and  property  of 
lirael  were  not  fecured  and  protected  by  law,  but  were 
at  the  difpofal  of  a  foreign  lawlefs  defpot  ;  and  your 
progrefs  through  the  land  in  the  exercife  of  your  high 
office,  was  checked  and  overawed  by  a  licenfed  ban- 
ditti. Let  us  rejoice  together,  that  government  has 
reverted  to  its  channel  ;  the  highways  are  no  longer 

blocked 

*  Verfe  9 — 11.  f  Verfe  9. 

X  Verfa  10. 


Lect.  V.  'Mifibry  of  Deborah.  71 

blocked  up,  and  therefore  no  longer  unoccupied, 
place  your  thrones  of  judgment  where  you  -will,  in  the 
gate,  in  the  highway,  the  communication  is  open, 
there  is  none  to  make  you  afraid,  the  enemies  whom 
you  have  feen,  you  fhall  fee  them  no  more  again  for- 
ever.'* 

Her  next  addrefs  feems  to  be  made  to  the  fhepherds 
of  the  lately  oppreifed  country.  "  They  that  are  de- 
livered from  the  noife  of  archers  in  the  places  of 
drawing  water  ;  there  fhall  they  rehearfe  the  righteous 
acts  of  the  Lord,  even  the  righteous  ads  towards  the 
inhabitants  of  his  villages  in  IlVael ;  then  fhall  the  peo- 
ple of  the  Lord  go  down  to  the  gates."  *  They  are 
reprefented  as  trembling  at  the  found  of  their  own 
feet  among  the  pebbles  of  the  brook,  left  thereby 
they  fhould  awaken  the  attention  of  their  rapacious 
mafters  ;  they  are  afraid  to  drive  their  flocks  to  the 
watering  place,  left  they  lliould  expofe  themfelves  and 
their  harmlefs  fleecy  charge,  to  the  cruel  fliafts  of  the 
archer,  ever  on  the  watch  to  gall  and  annoy  them. 
But  now,  there,  even  there,  in  the  very  fcene  of  their 
forrow  and  mifery,  where  the  ruftling  of  a  leaf  durft 
not  be  heard,  they  fliall  break  out  together  into  fing- 
ing  ;  there,  free  from  forrow,  free  from  fear,  "  fliall 
they  rehearfe  the  righteous  a6ls  of  the  Lord,  even  the 
righteous  acls  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  villages  in  If- 
rael."  Finally,  fiie  calls  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the 
villages,  the  hufbandmen  and  vine-dreflers,  to  add 
their  voices  to  the  fwelling  band,  on  recovering  their 
tranquillity,  on  being  reftored  to  the  felicity  of  labour- 
ing for  themfelves,  and  faved  from  the  mortification 
of  feeing  lazy,  infolent  ftrangers  devouring  the  fruit 
of  their  painful  toil,  and  repairing,  as  before,  in  hap^- 
pier  days,  to  their  own  gates,  to  their  own  judges  for 
juftice  and  judgement.  Thus  we  hear,  as  it  were,  the 
tuneful  choir  gradually  increafmg  in  number,  the 
peafant  taking  up  the  fong  which  the  fliepherd  had 
put  into  his  mouth,  the  ihepherd  following  the  magif- 

trate, 

*  Verfe  1 1 , 


72  Hijiory  of  Deborah  *  Lect.  V. 

trate,  the  magiftrate  the  foldier,  till  all  Ifrael  becomes 
one  voice,  one  heart,  one  foul,  to  celebrate  the  high 
praifes  of  God.  Faint  reprefentation  of  that  more 
glorious  confummation,  that  purer  triumph,  that  more 
aufpicious  day,  that  inexpreffibly  more  important  fal- 
vation,  to  which  the  believer  in  Chrifl  Jefus  looks  in 
hope. 

The  voice  of  this  univerfal  chorus  having  ceafed,  a 
folemn  paufeof  fome  moments  feems  to  enfue  ;  when 
the  divinely-infpired  poetefs  awakes  to  new  rapture ; 
and  the  harmony  of  myriads  of  joyful  voices  fubfides 
into  the  melody  of  one  fimple  ftrain.  "  Awake, 
awake,  Deborah  :  awake,  awake,  utter  a  fong  :  arife, 
Barak,  and  lead  thy  captivity  captive,  thou  fon  of 
Abinoam."  *  What  genuine  touches  of  nature  have 
we  here,  what  l^mpiicity,  what  pathos,  what  fublimity  1 
She  feems  to  regret  her  exhaufled  powers  ;  her  fpirit  is 
ftill  willing  ;  flie  cannot  bear  to  ceafe  fo  foon  from  fo 
divine  an  employ  ;  flie  flarts  into  frefh  enthufiafm. 
Having  put  words  of  praife  into  the  mouths  of  a  whole 
fared  people,  fhe  takes  up  her  own  peculiar  ftrain  ; 
"  Awake,  awake,  Deborah  :  awake,  awake,  utter  a 
fong  :"  And  then,  turning  to  the  companion  of  her 
viftory,  excites  him  to  make  a  public  difplay  of  the 
wonderful  trophies  of  that  wondrous  day  ;  "  Arife, 
Barak,  and  lead  thy  captivity  captive,  thou  fon  of 
Abinoam.*'  Exhibit  them  in  chains,  who  had  forged 
chains  for  the  hands  and  feet  of  Ifrael  j  lead  them 
captive,  who  led  in  captivity  the  free-born  fons  of 
God  ;  fhew  triumphantly  the  fpoils  of  them  that  fpoii- 
ed  thee  ;  "  the  prey  taken  from  the  i^iighty,  and  the 
lawful  captive  delivered  ;'*  them  that  "  oppreffed  thee 
fed  with  their  own  flefli,  and  drunken  with  their  own 
blood,  as  with  fweet  wine  ;'*  a  righteous  "  God  con- 
tending with  them,  who  contended  with  thee.'* 
"  Thou  fon  of  Abinoam.'*  She  roufes  her  noble  col- 
league to  excel  in  praife,  as  he  had  excelled  in  coun^ 
fel  and  courage,  by  one  of  the  mod  powerful  motives 

of 

*  Verfe  12. 


Lect.  V.  Hi/lory  of  Deborah.  73 

of  human  condu6l,  the  honour  of  his  father's  name 
and  family.  Let  the  names  of  Barak  and  Abinoaiu 
be  tranfmitted,  hand  in  hand,  with  refpe^t,  to  the  lat- 
eft  generations  ;  let  the  world  know  that  on  Abinoam 
a  gracious  Providence  conferred  the  dillinguiflied  hon- 
our of  being  the  father  of  the  father  of  his  country. 

It  is  not  anceflry,  it  is  not  country  that  can  beftovr 
celebrity  on  a  deedlefs  name,  on  an  idle  or  worthlcfs 
character  ;  it  is  illuftrious  virtue,  it  is  fuperior  wif- 
dom,  it  is  ufeful  abihty  that  confers  nobility,  true  no- 
bility on  families,  and  celebrity  on  countries,  Coru 
tending  cities  claim  the  honour  of  giving  birth  to 
Homer.  Strip  Athens  of  her  renowned  fons,  and  llic 
finks  into  a  mafs  of  rocks  and  fand,  How  Vv'ould  the 
heart  of  Abinoam  glow  with  dehght,  as  often  as  the 
found  of  his  name  reached  his  ears,  in  connexion 
with  that  of  a  fon  whom  a  grateful  country  acknowl- 
edged, and  celebrated  with  fongs,  as  its  faviour  ! 

In  the  13th  verfe  we  fee  the  low  and  reduced  flate 
of  Ifrael  again  brpught  into  view,  to  prepare  for  a  frefh 
difcovery  of  the  power  and  goodnefs  of  God,  and  to 
exhibit  in  another  point  of  light,  the  foHdity,  ftrength 
and  fecurity  of  his  church,  "  out  of  weaknefs  made 
ftrong,"  "  waxing,"  in  a  moment,  "  valianfin  fight, 
turning  to  flight  the  armies  of  the  aliens."  "  Then 
he  made  him  that  remaineth  have  dominion  over  the 
nobles  among  the  people  :  the  Lord  made  me  have 
dominion  over  the  mighty."  *  In  two  ftriking  par- 
ticulars, this  gracious  interpofition  of  Heaven  is  em- 
phatically pointed  out,  "  He  made  him  that  reinain- 
etb  to  have  dominion.  It  was  not  the  Jircngth  of  If- 
rael which  God  employed  in  crufhing  the  "  nobles'* 
and  pride  of  Canaan,  it  was  not  by  oppofing  force  to 
force,  fl^ill  to  (kill,  that  Providence  decided  the  con- 
teil  ;  but  by  a  fcattered,  broken  remainder  ;  but  by  a 
difpirited  handful,  that  durfl  not  truft  themfelves  in 
the  plain  againft  the  enemy,  but  by  an  unarmed  rab- 
ble whom  Sifera  held  in  contempt,  that  Jehov-ih  tram- 
pled^ 

*  Vevf;  13. 


74  Hifiory  of  Deborah.  Lect.  V. 

pled  the  glory  of  Jabin  in  the  dufl ;  as  by  a  cake  of 
barley  bread  rolling  down  upon  a  tent  and  leveHing  it 
with  the  ground. 

To  fet  the  divine  fovereignty  in  a  dill  ftronger  light, 
Deborah  fuggells,  but  not  in  the  fpirit  of  felf-confi- 
dence,  that  when  God  did  appear  for  his  people,  he 
did  it  not,  by  kin41ing  martial  ardour  and  refentment 
in  manly  bofoms,  by  putting  the  machine  in  motion 
in  the  ufual  way  ;  but  by  creating  a  new  thing  in  the 
earth  ;  by  endowing  a  woman  with  more  than  manly 
fagacity  and  refolution  ;  by  making  a  woman  the  life 
and  foul  of  a  fmking  nation  ;  that  God  himfelf  might 
have  the  undivided  praife.  "  The  Lord  made  mc 
have  dominion  over  the  mighty.'*  I«  it  not  fomewhat 
remarkable,  that  Deborah  is  only  once  defcribed  as 
the  wife  of  Lapidoth  ?  whereas  Barak  is  repeatedly, 
both  in  hiftory  and   in  fong,  brought  forward  as  the 

,  fo7i  of  fuch  a  father.  Is  it  to  mark  the  bafe  degener- 
acy of  Ifrael  at  this  period  ?  all  mafculine  virtue  ex^ 
tinguifhed,  and  importance  funk  ;  the  only  trace  of 
the  exiftence  of  the  man,  that  he  was  the  hufband  of 
fuch  a  woman  ?  The  repetition  of  this  relation  there- 
fore may  have  been  omitted,  becaufe  it  would  have  re- 
fleded  reiterated  difgrace  upon  the  one,  without  add- 
ing much  to,  perhaps  fomewhat  detrading  from,  the 
glory  of  the  other.  Whereas  the  blazoning  of  a  fon*s 
praife,  inftead  of  detracting  from,  is  the  moft  gratify- 
ing addition  to,  a  father's  honour. 

In  the  paifage  which  follows,  the  prophetefs  goes 
with  a  poetical  and  prophetic  enthufiafm  into  a  detail 
of  the  diflinguifliing  chara6ters,  of  thefeveral  tribes  of 
Ifrael,  according  to  the  part  which  they  had  taken,  or 
neglefted  to  take,  in  the  caufe  of  their  country,  at  this 
trying  crifis,  which  at  prefent.I  fliall  fimply  quote, 
with  a  fmgle  remark  ;  and  then  conclude.  "  And 
the  princes  of  Iffachar  were  with  Deborah  ;  even  If- 
fachar,  and  alfo  Barak  :  he  was  fent  on  foot  into  the 
valley.     For  the  divifions  of  Reuben  there  were  great 

•  thoughts  of  heart.      Why  abodeft  thou    among  the 

flieep- 


LecT.  V,  Hi/lory  of  Deborah.  75 

flieep-folds,  to  hear  the  bleatings  of  the  flocks  ?  for 
the  divifions  of  Reuben  there  were  great  fearchings  of 
heart,  Gilead  abode  beyond  Jordan  :  and  why  did 
Dan  remain  in  fliips  ?  Afher  continued  on  the  fea- 
fhore,  and  abode  in  his  breaches.  Zebulun  and 
iNaphtali  were  a  people  that  jeoparded  their  Hves  unto 
the  death  in  the  high  places  of  the  field."*  This  is 
the  third  time  that  prophetic  infpiration  has  prefented 
us  with  the  difcriminating  features  of  the  Ions  of  If- 
rael,  and  of  the  tribes  which  defcended  from  them,  at 
three  different  periods,  and  in  very  different  fitua- 
tions — Jacob  on  his  dying  bed,  Mofes  on  the  wing  to 
afcend  Mount  Nebo,  and  Deborah  on  the  defeat  of 
Sifera.  The  comparative  view  of  Ifrael  at  thefe  dif- 
tant  periods  feems  to  me  a  fubjeft  of  curious,  pleafant 
and  not  ufelefs  difquifition,  and  I  mean  to  devote  the 
meditation  of  a  particular  evening  to  it. 

The  feafont  arrefts  us  now,  and  demands  a  feries 
of  reflexions  fuited  to  winter,  and  change,  and  de- 
cay, and  death.  The  pad  ruihes  upon  our  memory 
and  affedions  in  an  impetuous  tide.  The  future  dill 
prefents  the  fame  impenetrable  curtain  to  our  eager 
eyes.  We  go  on  fondly  planning  ;  and  after  a  thou^ 
fand  proofs  of  vanity,  return  to  treafure  up  for  our- 
felves  vexation  of  fpirit.  But  we  (hall  be  relieved  at 
length,  and  ere  long  land  on  that  fhore  where  fear 
and  hope  are  no  longer.  If  permitted  to  enter  on  the 
commencement  of  another  year,  we  fliall  endeavour 
to  improve  that  kind  indulgence,  by  endeavouring  to 
fuggeft  reflexions  fuited  to  the  occafion,  If  permits- 
ted  to  advance  to  a  feconj  fabbath  in  a  new  year,  we 
fhall  attempt  to  refume  our  accuftomed  purfuits  :  If 
to  any,  this  be  the  laft  opportunity  of  the  kind,  the 
folemn  farewell  is  now  taken,    And  kind  is  that  Prov- 

baidence  which  does  not  always  let  us  know  when  we 
are  faying  "  finally  farewell  j'*  which  permits  the  bit- 
ternefs  of  death   to  pafs   before  we  are  fenfible  it  is 

'/is'come.  Woe,woe,  woe,to  the  man  who  is  puniflied  with 

the 

*  V&rfe  i^ — 18.  f  The  laft  day  of  the  year. 


^6  Hijiory  of  Deborah,  Lect.  V, 

the  forefight  of  the  evil  that  is  coming  upon  him.  The 
exploits  of  a  Deborah  and  a  Barak  now  live  only  in 
the  page  of  hiftory  ;  their  fong  is  now  to  be  found 
only  in  a  few  meafured  words,  whofe  rythm  is  loft, 
whofe  fenfe  is  obfcure,  whofe  fpirit  is  evaporated.  But, 
my  friends,  we  have  this  day  been  comniemorating  * 
an  event  which  will  never  fmk  in  oblivion,  never  fpend 
its  force,  never  lofe  its  importance.  We  have  this 
day  been  carrying  on,  keeping  up  the  fong,  which  the 
enraptured  ihepherds  of  Bethlehem  caught  two  thou- 
fand  years  ago  from  a  choir  of  the  heavenly  hoft, 
which  is  ever  pleafmg,  ever  new  ;  let  us  again  refume 
it,  and  teach  it  to  our  children.  "  Glory,  glory  to 
God  in  the  higheft,  and  on  earth  peace,  good  will  to- 
wards men.**  BleiTmg  and  honour,  and  glory,  and 
power  be  unto  Him  that  fitteth  upon  the  throne,  and 
unto  the  Lamb,  forever  and  ever.**  Amen.  Halle- 
lujah ! 

*  In  the  participaupn  of  the  Lord's  fupper. 


Hiftory 


Hiftory  of  Deborah. 


LECTURE      VI. 


JUDGES  V.    20,  21. 

They  fought  from  heaven  :  the  Jiars  in  their  courfes 
fought  againji  Sifera.  The  river  of  Kifhon  fwept  them 
away,  that  ancient  river,  the  river  Kifhon :  0  my 
foul,  thou  haji  trodden  downjirength. 

IN  turning  over  the  hallowed  page  of  infpiration,  and 
contemplating  the  various  revolutions  of  human  af- 
fairs which  it  unfolds,  we  feem  tranfported  to  a  fupe- 
rior  region  ;  we  behold  the  earthly  ball  rolling  round 
beneath  our  feet;  we  witnefs  the  birth,  the  progrefs, 
the  diffolution  of  nations ;  we  learn  to  correct  the 
prejudices  of  education,  and  our  narrownefs  of  con- 
ception ;  we  no  longer  ignorantly  admire,  nor  fuper- 
cilioully  defpife  our  fellow-creatures  ;  we  adore  the 
great  Father  and  Lord  of  all,  who  "  has  of  one  blood 
formed  all  nations  of  men  to  inhabit  upon  the  face  of 
the  whole  earth,*'  and  "  whofe  kingdom  ruleth  over 
all."  From  that  elevation,  we  obferve  with  humble 
acquiefcence  and  holy  joy,  the  defigns  of  eternal  Prov- 
idence, maturing,  and  executing  themfelves  ;  the  in- 
dividual paffing  away,  but  the  fpecies  permanent ; 
ftates  and  kingdoms  changing  their  form,  their  fpirit, 
their  character ;  but  human  nature  the  fame  under 
every  government,  in  every  climate,  under  every  iky. 
We  behold  regions,  and  periods,  and  nations  rifing  in- 
to 


7S  Hi/iory  of  Deborah,  Lect.  VL 

to  notice,  into  eminence,  into  importance,  by  the  tal-~^ 

cnts,  the  virtues,  the  addrefs  of  one  man,  of  one  wom- 
an ;  and  returning  again  to  obfcurity  and  infignifi- 
cance,  through  a  defed  of  ^ifdom,  of  public  ipirit,  of 
exertion. 

The  hiftory  of  perhaps  no  nation  exhibits  fuch 
ilriking  and  inftrudive  variety  df  charader  and  event, 
as  that  of  the  pofterity  of  Abraham.  It  is  intereiHng 
in  itfelf,  and  it  is  clofely  connected  with  the  general 
interefts  of  mankind.  That  people,  through  a  difper- 
fion  of  near  two  thoufand  years,  have  prefer ved  an  ex- 
iftence.  Hated,  defpifed  and  perfecuted  by  all  other 
nations,  they  remain  uncxtirpated  ;  a  monument  at 
once  of  the  vengeance  and  of  the  care  of  Heaven  :  and 
unequivocal  intimations,  from  the  oracles  of  truth, 
hold  them  up  as  the  objects  of  eternal  Providence,  in 
events  of  fuperior  magnitude,  yet  to  take  place. 

We  have  followed  the  fucceffive  changes  which  they 
underwent,  with  fucceffive  emotions  of  aftoniihment,. 
exultation,  indignation  and  forrow.  And  we  find 
them,  at  the  defeat  of  Sifera  and  his  hoft,  in  a  fitua- 
tion  highly  critical  and  interefting.  The  prophetefs 
Deborah  in  this  celebrated  fong,  goes  into  a  compara- 
tive delineation  of  the  refpedtive  merit  and  demerit  of 
the  feveral  tribes  ;  and  thereby  enables  us  to  ellimate 
the  particular  charader  of  each,  at  different  eras  of 
their  political  exiftence.  Jacob  on  his  death-bed,  and 
Mofes  on  the  wing  to  depart,  in  his  valedidory  ad- 
drefs, prefent  us  with  a  fimilar  opportunity  ;  of  which 
we  are  now  to  avail  ourfelves,  in  the  two-fold  view  of 
extending  a  little  our  pittance  of  knowledge  of  human 
nature,  and  increafmg  our  admiration  of,  and  depend- 
ence upon,  the  Divine  Providence. 

In  the  dying  benediction  of  Jacob,  Judah,  his  fourth  * 
fon,  and  the  tribe  which  fhould  fpring  from  him,  make" 
a  mod  confpicuous  figure.     The  fpirit  of  prophecy 
employs  every  image  expreffive  of  power,  greatnefs, 
plenteoufnefs  and  duration,  to  reprefent  the  future 
eminence  and  fuperiority  of  that  tribe.     In  all  the 

muilers 


Lect.  VI.  Hyiory  of  Deborah.  79* 

muftcrs  which  were  made  of  the  people  during  the 
forty  years  wandering  in  the  wildernefs^  and  in  the 
diflribution  of  place  and  flation  according  to  divine 
appointment,  in  their  encampments  and  removals,  we 
ftill  find  Judah  excelling  in  number  and  ftrength,  and 
occupying  the  pod  of  honour.  But  Mofes  takes  leave 
of  that  tribe,  with  a  very  flight  degree  of  notice  ;  and 
in  the  fong  of  Deborah  their  name  is  not  fo  much  as 
mentioned,  nor  is  any  allufion  made  to  any  exploit  of 
theirs,  in  celebrating  the  triumph  of  that  eventful 
day.  Indeed  the  fpirit  and  pre-eminence  of  Judah 
feems  to  have  been  gradually  on  the  decline,  from  the 
days  of  Caleb,  who  conquered  and  difpofleffed  the 
fons  of  Anak  ;  till  they  were  revived,  maintained  and 
extended  under  David  and  Solomon.  And,  for  fever- 
al  centuries,  we  find  this  prerogative  tribe,  which  wa« 
deftined  to  the  lalting  honours  of  royalty  and  rule, 
fleeping  in  oblivion  and  unimportance  -xVith  the  infig- 
nificant  tribe  of  Simeon,  which  hardly  ever  achieved 
any  action,  or  produced  any  perfonage  worthy  of  be- 
ing remembered.  Of  fo  much  confequence  is  one 
man  in  a  tribe,  in  a  nation,  in  a  world. 

But  the  perfon  and  tribe  the  mod  diftinguiflied  in 
the  prophecy  of  Jacob,  and  the  blefiing  of  Mofes,  are 
alfo  the  mofl  diftinguilhed  in  this  triumphant  anthem, 
Ephraim,  the  younger  fon  of  Jofeph,  the  beloved  fon 
of  Jacob,  raifed  by  the  deftination  and  interpofition 
of  high  Heaven,  to  power  and  precedency  over  his  el- 
der brother.  To  the  exertions  of  this  branch  of  the 
houfe  of  Jofeph,  in  conjunftion  with  thofe  of  Zebulun 
and  Naphtali,  the  vidory  now  by  the  blefiing  of  God 
obtained  over  the  armies  of  Canaan  was  chiefly  to  be 
afcribed.  The  fpirit  of  their  father  Joftiua,  dead  in 
fo  many  other  of  the  tribes  of  Ifrael,  is  alive  in 
them,  and  happily  is  propitious  to  the  common 
caufe. 

A  fevere  cenfure  of  the  condud  of  the  two  tribes 
and  a  half  beyond  the  river,  is  more  than  infinuated ; 
it  is  brought  direO:ly  forward.     They  arc  reprefented 

as 


8o  Hijiory  of  Deborah,  Lect.  VI. 

as  totally  lofi  to  all  public  fpirit,  and  wrapt  up  in  cold 
feifiihnei's  and  indifference.  Jordan  was  a  kind  of  de- 
fence to  them  from  the  Canaanitifh  foe,  and  the  cries 
of  their  opprelfed  brethren  beyond  the  river  arc 
drowned  in  the  more  interefling  bleatings  of  their  own 
flocks.  The  fame  fpirit  of  felfiflinefs  is  reprefented  as 
pervading  the  tribes  who  inhabited  thefea  coafts,  Dan 
and  Afher,  and  who,  fubfifting  by  trade,  and  abforbed 
by  the  love  of  gain,  fleeled  their  hearts  to  the  feelings 
of  fympathy  and  humanity.  Drawing  their  fupplies 
from  the  ocean,  they  forget  they  have  a  country  ;  and 
under  the  influence  of  one  domineering  lufl,  all  the 
better  claims  of  the  human  heart,  are  fuppreffed  and 
filenced.  They  purfue  their  merchandize,  as  the  oth- 
ers attended  to  their  fheep  farms,  regardlefs  what 
their  wretched  countrymen  meanwhile  endured. 
"  For  the  divifions  of  Reuben  there  were  great 
thoughts  of  heart.  Why  abodeft  thou  among  the 
fneep-folds,  to  hear  the  bleatings  of  the  flocks  ?  For 
the  divifions  of  Reuben  there  were  great  fearchings  of 
heart.  Gilead  abode  beyond  Jordan  :  and  why  did 
Dan  remain  in  fliips  ?  Afher  continued  on  the  fea-fhore, 
and  abode  in  his  breaches."* 

Such  is  the  general  view  of  the  (late  of  Ifrael  at 
this  period,  which  the  words  of  Deborah  convey. 
The  import  of  many  of  the  expreflions  which  the 
prophetefs  employs  to  convey  her  feelings  on  this  oc- 
cafion,  we  pretend  not  to  underftand  or  to  explain. 
Is  it  any  wonder  that  in  a  poetical  compofition  up- 
wards of  three  thoufand  years  old,  in  a  language  fo 
little  fl:udied,  referring  to  a  hiftory  of  which  the  out- 
line only  is  drawn,  there  fliould  be  many  things  diffi- 
cult to  be  underfhood  ?  This  much  is  evident  upon  the 
face  of  it,  that  Ifrael  at  that  unhappy  period  exhibited 
a  fpedlacle,  bearing  but  too  near  a  refemblance  to 
what  our  own  times f  have  feen  dreadfully  realized. 

A  whole 

*  Verfe  15 — 17. 

f  Great-Britain  embroiled  with  France,  Spain,  Holland,  America 
and  an  arnied  neutrality. 


Lect.  VI.  Hijiory  of  Deborah,  8i 

A  whole  hoft  of  foes,  a  world  in  arms,  combined  to 
work  the  downfall  of  a  finful,  devoted  country.  Inter- 
nal difcord,  the  exthidion  of  public  virtue,  the  do- 
minion of  bare-faced  iniquity — but,  the  arm  of  the 
Lord  is  revealed,  and  falvation  is  wrought. 

The  picture  which  the  poetefs  draws  of  the  defpe- 
rate  ftate  of  Ifraelitifh  affairs  is  truly  affeding  ;  and  is  a 
happy  preparation  for  a  difplay  of  that  unexpeded 
and  aftoniihing  rehef,  which  had  juft  turned  their 
forrow  into  gladnefs.  Judah  lulled  afleep  in  lifllefs 
inadion,  without  exertion,  without  exiflence  ;  a  fourth 
part  of  the  national  force,  on  the  other  fide  Jordan, 
carelefs,  tending  their  flocks  ;  another  fourth  devoted 
to  their  private  traffic  ;  the  fword  of  judgment  in  the 
feeble  hand  of  a  female  ;  confederated  kings  threaten- 
ing their  utter  extirpation  ;  enemies  numerous, 
"  flrong  and  lively,  and  hating  them  with  a  cruel  ha- 
tred ;"  what  power  can  diifipate  the  gathered  ftorm  ? 
That  power  which  fays  to  the  roaring  ocean,  "  Hith- 
erto (halt  thou  come,  but  no  further,  and  here  fhall 
thy  proud  waves  be  flayed.*'  "  They  fought  from 
heaven  :  the  ftars  in  their  courfes  fought  againil  Sife- 
ra.'**  Behold,  all  nature  engaged  in  the  caufe  of 
Ifrael's  God.  The  heavenly  hoft  firfl  take  up  the 
quarrel ;  angels,  legions  of  "  angels  that  excel  in 
ftrength  :'*  "  the  leafl  of  whom  could  wield  thefe  ele- 
ments." The  mofl  powerful  and  fplendid  parts  of 
inanimate  nature  feel  the  alarm,  and  join  their  influ- 
ence ;  "  the  flars  in  their  courfes."  The  earth  quick- 
ly hears  the  heaven  ;  the  waters  fwell  and  rage  ; 
Kifhon  increafed,  mofl  probably,  by  the  recent  dread- 
ful temped  which  had  fallen  from  the  air,  rifes  fudden- 
ly  upon  them,  and,  like  the  Red  Sea  of  old,  fv/allows 
up,  as  in  a  moment,  the  enemy  and  the  avenger. 

There  is  a  fingular  force  and  beauty  in  the  repeti- 
tion of  the  name  of  the  river,  with  the  addition  of  the 
epithet  "  ancient."  It  is  natural  for  men  to  value 
themfelves  on  the  antiquity  of  their  country,  and  its 
Vol.  VI.  F  cities. 

*  Verfe  20. 


82  Hijiory  of  Deborah,  LicT.  VL 

cities.  It  is  the  fond  term  which,  in  the  honeft  pride 
and  exultation  of  our  hearts,  we  affix  to  our  own  land  ; 
it  feems  to  confer  additional  dignity  and  importance  ^ 
we  afTociate  in  the  idea,  the  valour  and  fuccefs  of  form- 
er times  ;  we  feel  our  hearts  attracted  as  to  a  com- 
mon parent ;  filial  affedion  and  brotherly  love  revive 
at  the  found.  In  the  enthufiafm  of  pious  and  poetical 
infpiration,  {he  beflows  animation  and  paflion  on  the 
flood  ;  (lie  reprefents  it  as  rifmg  in  pride  and  joy,  and 
overflowing  its  banks,  to  ferve  the  caufe  of  ancient 
friends,  lying  under  the  rod  of  infolence  and  oppref- 
fion.  And  the  period  pathetically  clofes,  with  the 
prophetefs,  in  a  fmgle  word,  apollrophizing  herfelf 
as  the  honoured,  happy  inftrument  of  co-operating 
with  intelligent  and  animated  nature  in  trampling 
pride  and  cruelty  into  the  duft.  "  O  my  foul,  thou 
haft  trodden  down  ftrength.*' 

I  have  already  anticipated  much  of  what  I  had  to 
fay,  on  the  fubjeft  of  the  glowing  eulogium  which  Deb- 
orah pronounces  on  the  conduft  of  "  Jael,  the  wife  of 
Heber."  Permit  me  only  to  repeat,  that  in  order  to 
our  fully  adopting  the  fentiments  of  the  Ifraelitifh  poet- 
efs,  we  mufl  be  acquainted  with  many  circumftances 
of  the  cafe,  which  the  concifenefs  of  the  facred  hiftory 
enables  us  not  to  difcover ;  that  there  is  a  fmgularity 
in  the  whole  conduft  and  occafion  of  the  bufmefs, 
which  forbids  it  to  be  drawn  into  a  precedent,  and 
pleaded  in  ordinary  cafes  as  an  example  or  an  excufe  ; 
that  we  are  to  diftinguifli  carefully  betwixt  the  poetic 
ardour  and  enthufiafm  of  a  female  bard  and  patriot, 
and  the  calm,  unimpaffioned  praife  and  cenfure  of 
found  reafon,  or  the  deliberate  approbation  of  the  God 
of  truth,  mercy  and  jufllce.  We  know  certainly  that 
God  cannot  love  nor  commend  perfidy,  cruelty  or  re- 
venge. But  he  juftly  may,  and  often  does  employ  the 
outrageous  paffions  of  one  great  offender  to  punilh 
thofe  of  another.  And  that  through  ignorance,  prej- 
udice, or  wilful  mifconception,  the  wifefl  of  men  are 

very 


Lect.  VI.  Hi/iory  of  Deborah,  83 

very  incompetent  judges  of  the  ways  and  works  cf  the 
Almighty. 

The  winding  up  of  this  facred  poem,  fuggefls  the 
mod  fatisfadory  apology  for  the  condudl  of  Jael,  and 
accounts  at  the  lame  time  for  the  warmth  of  the  ftrains 
in  which  Deborah  celebrates  that  conduct.  It  is  the 
horrid  ufe  which  conquerors  ufually  made  of  vidory, 
to  which  I  allude.  The  wretched  females  of  the  van- 
quiflied  people  fell  a  prey  to  the  brutal  lufl  of  the 
vidors.  This  was  a  cafe  {o  common  that  "  the  moth- 
er of  Sifera  and  her  wife  ladies"  are  reprefented  as  fo 
loft  to  feminine  delicacy  and  compaflion  as  remorfe- 
leisly  to  exult  in  the  thought  of  portioning  out  the 
virgins  of  Ifrael  to  Sifera  and  his  foldiers,  as  the  mere 
rnltruments  of  a  brutal  pleafure  ;  as  an  article  of  hor- 
rid booty  for  the  lawlefs  plunderer.  "  The  mother 
of  Sifeia  looked  out  at  a  window,  and  cried  through 
the  lattice,  Why  is  his  chariot  fo  long  in  coming  ? 
why  tarry  the  wheels  of  his  chariots  ?  Her  wife  ladies 
aufwered  her,  yea,  flie  returned  anfwer  to  herfelf.  Have 
they  not  fped  ?  have  they  not  divided  the  prey,  to 
every  man  a  damfel  or  two  ?  to  Silera  a  prey  of  divers 
colours,  a  prey  of  divers  colours  of  needle-work,  of 
divers  colours  of  needle-work  on  both  fides,  meet  for 
the  necks  of  them  that  take  the  fpoil  ?'**  Now,  may 
we  not  fuppofe  both  Jael  and  Deborah  animated  with 
a  holy  indignation  againll  the  intended  violators  of 
their  fex's  modefty  and  honour,  and  with  a  holy  joy, 
on  the  defeat  of  their  ungracious  purpofe  ?  May  we 
not  innocently  fuppofe  a  mixture  of  virtuous  female 
fpirit  infpiring  what  the  one  aded  and  the  other  fung  ? 
Our  pity  for  the  fallen  warrior,  and  his  untimely,  in- 
glorious fate,  muft  of  courfe  abate,  when  we  confider 
that  a  righteous  and  merciful  Providence,  by  whatever 
means,  (hortened  a  life,  and  flopped  a  career,  which 
threatened  the  life,  the  virtue,  the  happinefs  of  thou- 
fand$. 

F  2  la 

•  Ver.  28,  29,  30. 


84  Hijhry  of  Deborah.  Lect.  VI. 

In  perfonifying  the  chara6ler  of  Sifera's  mother  ^nd 
her  attendants,  Deborah  prefents  us  with  a  happy  im- 
itation of  a  pafifage  in  the  fong  of  Mofes  on  the  trium- 
phant paffage  of  the  Red  Sea  ;  where  the  poet  infin- 
iiates  himfelf,  by  a  bold  figure  of  eloquence,  into  the 
councils  of  Pharaoh,  overhears  their  formidable  refo- 
lutions,  and  in  the  clofe  of  the  fcene,  rejoices  in  fee- 
ing their  counfels,  once  fo  much  dreaded,  turned 
into  foolifhnefs,  by  the  grace  and  power  of  Heaven. 
"  The  enemy  faid,  I  will  purfue,  I  will  overtake,  I  will 
divide  the  fpoil ;  my  lull  fhall  be  fatisfied  upon  them  ; 
I  will  draw  my  fword,  my  hand  lliall  deftroy  them. 
Thou  didfl  blow  with  thy  wind,  the  fea  covered  them  ; 
they  fank  as  lead  in  the  mighty  waters."*  So  here, 
Deborah  brings  in  the  matrons  of  Canaan  as  anticipa- 
ting the  fruits  of  vidory,  prematurely  enjoying  the 
triumph  of  the  fubjeftion  of  the  Ifraelitiih  damfels  to 
their  own  pride,  and  the  pleafure  of  their  warriors ; 
and  file  infpirits  the  gratitude  and  joy  of  her  fair  coun- 
trywomen, by  gently  hinting  at  the  dreadful  hazard 
which  they  had  run.  This  too,  of  courfe,  dirainiilies 
oiir  concern  for  the  cruel  difappointmcnt  which  the 
mother  of  Siiera  endured,  looking  and  looking,  from 
her  Yiindow,  but  ftill  looking  in  vain  for  him  who  was 
never  more  to  return  ;  expecting  and  expecting  that 
lingering  chariot,  which  the  ancient  river  Kifhon  had 
long  ere  now  fwept  down  its  ftream  :  fluflied  with 
hope,  only  to  make  calamity  more  bitter.  And  let 
that  hope  be  forever  blafted,  which  could  be  accom- 
plifhed  only  by  what  humanity  Ihudders  to  think   of. 

Having  thus  enjoyed  felf-gratulation,  and  called 
forth  the  grateful  congratulations  of  her  delivered 
country,  and  with  heroic  ardour  trampled  on  difap- 
pointed  lull,  infolence  and  ambition,  fhe  now  aims  a 
nobler  flight.  The  world  and  its  traniitory  intcrells 
and  employments  difappear.  The  throne  of  God 
meets  her  enraptured  eye.  Private,  perfonal,  nation- 
al animofity  are  no  more  :  all,  all  is  lofl  in  the  higher, 

unlimited, 
*  Exod.  XV.  9,  10. 


Lect.-VI.  HifiGry  of  Dcbcrch.  85 

unlimited,  unchanging  interefls  of  the  divine  glory. 
*'  So  let  all  thine  enemies  perifh,  O  Lord."  This  u 
but  a  prophetic  enunciation  of  what  needs  mull  be. 
After  one  revolution  has  obliterated  another,  one 
mortal  intereft  fwallowed  another  up — after  the  dif- 
tinciions  of  Jew  and  Gentile,  Greek  and  barbarian, 
bond  and  free  are  lofl  and  forgotten,  the  honours  of 
the  divine  juftice  and  mercy  fhall  fiourifh  and  prevail. 
They  that  are  afar  from  him,  of  whatever  other  name 
or  defcription,  £hall  perifh  ;  and  the  workers  of  in- 
iquity fhall  be  deftroyed. 

But  the  pious  leader  of  the  heavenly  theme,  as  if 
unwilling  to  fhut  up  her  fong  with  an  idea  fo  gloomy 
as  the  avt-ful  difpleafure  of  the  great  God  againfi:  his 
adverfaries,  relieves  herfelf  and  us,  by  taking  up  the 
more  encouraging  view  of  the  favour  of  Jehovah  to 
his  friends,  and  thus  fhe  fervently  breathes  out  her 
foul ;  "  But  let  them  that  love  him,  be  as  the  fun 
when  he  goeth  forth  in  his  might." 

Next  to  the  great  Lord  of  nature  himfelf,  who  'a, 

to  us  inviiible. 


Or  dimly  feen,  in  thefe  his  lowell  v»-arks  ; 

Milton. 

that  glorious  creature  of  his  power,  the  fun,  is  the 
mod  flriking  and  impreilive  of  all  objects.  And  poets 
of  every  defcription  have  enriched  and  ennobled  their 
compoiitions  by  allulions  to  the  glorious  orb  of  day, 
*'  of  this  great  world  the  eye  and  foul,"  as  the  brighteil 
inanimate  image  of  Deitv  here  below,  the  fountain  of 
light,  the  difpenfer  of  vital  warmth,  the  parent  oi  joy. 
The  infpired  facred  writers  have  likevviie  happily  em- 
ployed it  to  reprefent  the  mofl  glorious  animated  im- 
age of  God  in  our  world,  a  wife  and  good  man  '*  go- 
ing from  ftrength  to  ftrength  ;"  fhining  as  a  light  iu  a 
dark  place ;  lilentlv,  without  expectation  of  return, 
without  upbraiding,  in  an  unceafmg  revolution  of  dif- 
fuiing  happinefs ;  aiming  at  reiemblance  to  his  Crea- 
tor 


S6  Hi/iory  of  Deborah,  Lect.  VI. 

tor  by  becoming  a  god  to  his  fellow-creatures.  It  is 
thus  that  Deborah  concludes  her  fong  ;  with  a  warm 
ettufion  of  faith,  and  hope,  and  defire,  that  righteouf- 
nefs  might  abound  and  increafe,  that  good  men  might 
be  in  fucceffion  raifed  up,  each  in  his  day  a  light  to  hiS 
country,  to  mankind  ;  "  going  forth  as  the  fun  in  h;s 
might,"  from  luftre  to  flill  higher  luftre,  from  uieful- 
;jefs  to  ufefulnefs,  without  diminution  and  without  end. 
By  the  fame  fnnple  but  powerful  imagery  the  wife 
man  reprefents  the  progrefs  of  true  goodnefs ;  "  the 
path  of  the  juft  is  as  the  Ihining  light,  that  fhineth 
more  and  more  unto  the  perfeft  day.'*  And  Wifdom 
itfelf  by  a  fimilar  fuggeftion  animates  the  zeal  and 
fupports  the  induftry  of  thofe  who  were  to  teach  his 
religion  to  the  nations  of  the  earth ;  "  Ye  are  the 
light  of  the  world.  Let  your  hght  fo  fhine  before 
men,  that  they  may  fee  your  good  works,  and  glorify 
your  Father  which  is  in  heaven." 

To  the  whole  is  affixed  an  hiftorical  note,  fhort  in- 
deed, but  highly  interefling  and  important ;  "And  the 
land  had  reft  forty  years.**  This  is  the  noblefl  eulo- 
gium  of  Deborah,  the  moft  honourable  difplay  of  her 
talents  and  virtues.  If  there  be  feelings  worthy  of  en- 
vy, they  are  thofe  of  this  exalted  woman,  on  reflecting 
that  God  had  honoured  her  to  reftore  hberty  and 
peace  to  her  country  ;  and  to  eftablifh  fuch  a  lyftem 
of  adminiftration  of  juftice,  of  civil  government,  of 
military  difcipline,  and  of  religious  worfnip,  as  preferv- 
ed  the  pubhc  tranquillity  for  forty  years.  How  ef- 
feftually  may  every  individual  ferve  the  community  ! 
Of  what  importance,  then,  is  every,  the  meaneft  indi- 
vidual !  How  lading  and  how  extenfive  is  the  influence 
of  real  worth  !  There  is  one  way  in  which  every  man 
may  be  a  public  blefling,  may  become  a  faviour  of  his 
country— by  cultivating  the  private  virtues  of  the  man 
and  the  Chriftian. 

I  proceed  to  illuftrate  the  female  charadler,  its  ami- 
ablenefs,  ufefulnefs  and   iaiportancc,  in  perfons  and 

fcenefc 


Lect.  VI.  Uiftory  of  Deborah.  87 

fcenes  of  a  very  different  complexion  \  in  the  lefs  glar- 
ing, but  not  lefs  inftrudive  hiftory  of  Ruth,  the  Mo- 
abitefs,  and  Naomi,  her  mother-in-law  ;  happy  to  ef- 
cape  the  fcenes  of  horror  and  blood  which  are  the  fub- 
jeft  of  the  remainder  of  the  hiftory  of  the  Ifraelitifh 
judges. 


Hiftory 


Hiftory  of  Ruth. 


LECTURE      VII. 


RUTH    1.    I 5. 

iVow  it  came  to  pafs  in  the  days  ivhen  the  judges  ruled^ 
that  there  was  a  famine  in  the  land.  And  a  certain 
man  of  Beth-lehem-'Judah  went  tofojourn  in  the  country 
of  Moab,  he  and  his  wife  and  his  two  fons .  And  the 
name  of  the  man  was  Elimelech^  and  the  name  of 
his  wife  Naomi,  and  the  name  of  his  two  fons 
Mahlon  and  Chilion,  Ephrathites  of  Beth-lehem-'Ju- 
dah. And  they  came  into  the  country  of  Moab, 
and  continued  there,  AndEli?nelech,  Naomi's  hujiafid, 
died ;  and  fhe  was  left  and  her  two  fons.  And  they 
took  them  wives  of  the  women  of  Moab  ;  the  name  of 
the  one  was  Orpah,  and  the  name  of  the  other  Ruth  : 
ajid  they  dwelled  there  about  ten  years.  And  Mahlon 
and  Chilion  died  alfo  both  of  them  ;  and  the  woman  was 
left  of  her  two  fons,  and  her  hujband, 

1  HE  perpetual  viciffitude  that  prevails  In  the  fyf- 
tem  of  the  univerfe,  and  in  the  conducl  ol  Providence, 
is  adapted  to  the  nature,  and  conducive  to  the  happi- 
nefs  of  man.  The  fuccefTion  of  day  and  night,  alter- 
nate labour  and  repofe,  the  variations  of  the  changing 
feafons  lend  to  each,  as  it  returns,  its  peculiar  beauty 
and  fitnefs.  We  are  kept  ftill  looking  forward,  we 
are  ever  hovering  on  the  wing  of  expectation,  rifing 

from 


Lect.  VII.  'Ulpry  of  Ruth.  89 

from  attainment  to  attainment,  preffing  on  to  fome 
future  mark,  purfuing  fome  yet  unpoileffed  prize. 
The  hireling,  fupported  by  the  profpeft  of  reccix-ing 
the  evening's  reward,  cheerfully  fulfils  the  work  c^f 
the  day.  The  hufbandman,  without  regret,  perceives 
the  glory  of  fummer  paffing  away,  becaufe  he  lifts  up 
his  eyes  and  "  beholds  the  fields  white  unto  the  har- 
veft  ;**  and  he  fubmits  joyfully  to  the  painful  toil  of 
autumn,  in  contemplation  of  the  reft  and  comfort  he 
fhall  enjoy,  when  thefe  fame  fields  fball  be  white  with 
fnow.  It  is  hunger  that  gives  a  relilh  to  food  ;  it  is 
pain  that  recommends  eafe.  The  value  of  abundance 
is  known  only  to  thofe  who  have  fuifered  want,  and 
we  are  little  fenfible  what  we  owe  to  God  for  the  bleiT- 
ing  of  health,  till  it  is  interrupted  by  ficknefs. 

The  very  plagues  which  mortality  is  heir  to,  have 
undoubtedly  their  ufes  and  their  ends :  and  the  fword 
may  be  as  neceflary  to  draw  off  the  grofs  humours  of 
the  moral  world,  as  ftorm  and  tempefl  are  to  difturb 
the  mortal  ftagnation,  and  to  chafe  away  the  poifonous 
vapours  of  the  natural.  Weak,  fhort-fighted  man  is 
affuredly  unqualified  to  decide  concerning  the  ways 
and  works  of  infinite  wifdom  ;  but  weak,  labouring, 
wretched  man  may  furely  repofe  unlimited  confidence 
in  infinite  goodnefs. 

During  the  dreadful  times  when  there  was  no  king 
in  Ifrael,  the  whole  head  was  fo  fick,  the  whole  heart 
fo  faint,  the  whole  mafs  fo  corrupted,  that  an  ocean 
of  blood  muft  be  drained  off,  before  it  can  be  reftored 
to  foundnefs  again.  Not  only  one  rotten  limb,  but 
the  whole  body  is  in  danger  of  perifliing,  and  noth- 
ing but  a  painful  operation  can  fave  it.  The  fkilful, 
firm,  but  gentle  hand  of  Providence  takes  up  the  in- 
ftrument,  cuts  out  the  difeafe,  and  then  tenderly  binds 
up  the  bleeding  wounds.  Relieved  from  the  diftrefs 
ot  beholding  brother  lifting  up  the  fpear  agalnfl  broth- 
er, from  hearing  the  fliouts  of  the  vidor,  and  the 
groans  of  the  dying,  we  retire  to  contemplate  and  to 
partake  of  the  noifelefs  fcenes  of  domcflic  life  j  to  ob- 

ferve 


$»  tiljtory  of  Ruth.  Lect.  VIL 

fervethe  wholefome  forrows  and  guiltlefs  joys  of  calm- 
nefs  and  obfcurity ;  to  join  in  the  triumphs  of  lenfi- 
bility,  and  to  folace  in  the  foft  effufions  of  nature  ;  to 
*'  fmile  with  the  fimple,  and  feed  with  the  poor." 

The  little  hiftory  on  which  we  are  now  entering,  is 
one  of  thofe  which  every  where,  and  at  all  feafons, 
mud  afford  pleafure  and  inftrudion.  It  is  a  mofl  in- 
tereiling  difplay  of  ordinary  life,  of  fimple  manners, 
of  good  and  honed  hearts ;  of  the  power  of  friendfhip 
and  the  rewards  of  virtue.  It  forms  an  important 
link  in  the  chain  of  providence,  and  the  hiltory  of 
redemption.  There  is  perhaps  no  ftory  that  has  been 
wrought  into  fo  many  different  forms,  transfufed  in- 
to fo  many  different  languages,  accommodated  to  fo 
many  different  fituations,  as  the  hiftory  of  Ruth.  It 
is  felt,  from  the  cottage  up  to  the  palace,  by  the  ruf- 
tic  and  the  courtier,  by  the  orphan  gleaner  in  the 
field,  and  the  king's  daughter.  The  man  of  tafte  de- 
lights in  it  on  account  of  the  artlefs  ftrudure,  elegant 
didion,  and  judicious  arrangement  of  the  tender 
tale.  The  friend  of  virtuous  fenfibility  delights  in  it, 
for  the  gentle  emotions  which  it  excites,  and  the  ufe- 
ful  leffons  which  it  inculcates.  The  pious  foul  rejoices 
in  it  from  the  enlarged,  the  inftrudive,  the  confola- 
tory  views  of  the  divine  providence  which  it  unfolds. 
The  inquiring  and  devout  chriftian  prizes  it,  as  ftand- 
ing  in  connexion  with  the  ground  of  his  faith,  and 
contributing  to  ftrengthen  the  evidence,  and  explain 
the  nature  of  "  thofe  things  wherein  he  has  been  in- 
ilrucled,"  and  on  which  he  refts  for  falvation.  Happy 
the  man,  who,  poffeffmg  all  thefe  qualities,  fliall 
perufe  and  employ  it  as  a  correftor  and  guide  to  the 
imagination,  as  a  fupport  to  the  fpirit,  as  a  light  to 
the  underftanding,  a  monitor  to  the  confcience,  a 
guard  to  the  affedions,  and  a  faithful  inftruftor  to 
the  heart. 

The  particular  era  of  this  ftory  is  not  marked  by 
the  facred  penman,  neither  has  he  been  directed  to 
affix  his  name  to  his  precious  little  work.     In  general 

it 


Lect.  VII.  Hi/iory  of  Ritth.  91' 

it  was  not  in  the  times  of  boifterous  anarchy  and  wild 
uproar,  that  Boaz  cut  down  his  barley,  and  Ruth 
gleaned  after  the  reapers.  The  fruits  of  the  field  were 
proteftedto  the  owner  by  lawful  authority,  andjufUcc 
was  adminiftered  by  the  elders  in  the  gate. 

If  we  confider  that  the  life  of  man  was  now  reduced 
to  the  common  ftandard,  that  David  was  the  fourth 
in  order  of  fucceffion  from  Eoaz,  and  allow  thirty  or 
thirty-five  years  to  be  the  medium  ftandard  of  diitance 
from  one  generation  to  another,  the  marriage  of  Boaz 
with  Ruth  will  be  thrown  upon  the  fiiort  adminiftra- 
tion  of  his  townfman  Ibzan,  the  fucceffor  of  Jep- 
tha,  of  which  we  have  only  a  brief  account :  "  And 
after  him,  Ibzan  of  Bethlehem  judged  Ifrael."  * 

Samuel  is  generally  underftood  to  have  written  both 
this  book  and  the  preceding,  and  thereby  to  have  pre- 
fervedthe  hiflorical  feries  of  events  from  Joihua  to  him- 
felf,  almoji  unbroken  ;  and  alfo  the  genealogical  deduc- 
tion of  fucceffion  down  to  David,  in  whom  the  roy- 
al line  of  the  houfe  of  Judah  commenced,  altogether 
uninterrupted.  And  while  we  behold  Rahab  the  har- 
lot, a  woman  of  Jericho,  and  Ruth  the  Moabitefs,  not 
only  admitted  to  the  rank  of  mothers  in  Ifrael,  but 
mothers  of  a  race  of  kings,  mothers  in  the  line  of 
"  Meffiah  the  Prince,"  we  are  admoniilied  as  Peter  was 
long  afterward,  on  a  different  occafion,  "  not  to  call 
that  common  or  unclean  which  God  hath  purified.'* 

Ifrael  was  now  enjoying  the  bleffing  of  good  gov- 
ernment, but  the  land  is  vifited  with  a  calamity  which 
no  fagacity  of  government  could  forefee  or  prevent, 
and  no  human  power  remove, — with  famine.  Bethle- 
hem itfelf,  the  houfe  of  bread,  fo  called  from  the  fer- 
tihty  of  the  circumjacent  fields,  finks  under  the  pref- 
fure  of  this  fore  evil,  and  Elimelech,  one  of  the  chiefs 
of  his  tribe,  is,  like  the  moft  illuftrious  of  his  anceftors, 
driven  to  feek  fubfiftence  in  a  flransfe  land. 

Every  land  according  to  its  place  on  the  globe  has 
its  peculiar  climate,  foil,  production.  One  is  water- 
ed 

*  judges  sii.  S. 


92  Hi/lory  of  Ruth.  Lect.  VII. 

ed  by  the  clouds  of  heaven,  another  by  an  inundation 
oi  fche  waters  of  the  earth.      Here  the  rain  defcends 
according  to  no  fixed  law,  either  as  to  feafon  or  quan- 
tity, there  it  is  meafured  to  a  drop,  and  timed  to  a  mo- 
ment.     On  the  regularity  or  uncertainty  of  thefe  dif- 
tributions   by  the  hand  of  nature,  or  the  intervention 
of  Providence,  depend  the  comfort,  the  very  fullenta- 
lion  of  human  Hfe  ;  on  them  depends  all  the  variation 
of  vegetable    produce,  as  to  plenty  or  fcarcity,  as  to 
greatnefs,  wholefomenefs,  pleafantnefs  and  their  con- 
traries.    Hence  the  fame  country  is   one  year  as  the 
garden  of  God,  for  beauty  and  abundance,   and  the 
next  as  the  waite  howling   wildernefs  ;   Canaan  now 
iiows  with  milk  and  honey,  and  gives  bread  to  the  full, 
and  anon  eats  up  its  inhabitants.    We  hear  an  offend- 
ed and  a   merciful    God,   by   the  mouth  of  the  fame 
prophet,  reproving  and   threatening  human  thought- 
lefsnefs  and  ingratitude  in  relation  to  this  interefting 
fubjed,  in  thefe  glowing  terms  :  "  She  did  not  know 
that  I  gave  her  corn  and  wine  and  oil,  and  multiplied 
her  filver  and  gold,  which  they  prepared  for  Baal  ; 
therefore  will  I  return  and  take  away  my  corn  in  the 
time  thereof,  and  my  wine  in  the  feafon  thereof,  and 
will  recover  my  wool  and  my  flax,  given  to  cover 
her  nakednefs.     And  I  will  deflroy  her  vines  and  her 
fig-trees,  of  which  fhe  faid,  Thefe  are  my  rewards  which 
my  lovers    have  given  me  :  and  I  will  make   them  a 
foreft,  and    the  beafls  of  the  field    fhall    eat  them.*' 
And  thus  relents  the   God  of  grace  towards  penitent 
returning    children,    "  I  will  betroth  thee   unto  me 
in  faithfulnefs,  and  thou  fhalt  know  the  Lord.     And 
it  fhall  come  to  pafs  in  that  day,  I  will  hear,  faith  the 
Lord,  I  will  hear  the  heavens,  and  they  fhall  hear  the 
earth,  and  the  earth  fliall  hear  the  corn  and  the  wine 
and  the   oil,  and  they    fhall  hear  Jezreel  ;  and  I  Xvill 
fow  her  unto  me  in  the  earth,  and  I  will  have  mercy 
on  her  that  had  not  obtained  mercy."      Such  is  the 
m}'fl:erious  fcale  of  both  mercy  and  judgment.     Thus 
univcrfal  nature  is  combined  in   one  firm  league  to 

opprefs 


Lect.  VII.  Eiftory  of  Ruth,  9j 

opprefs  and  confound  God's  adverfary.  Thus  every 
creature,  every  event  unites  in  preferving  the  exift- 
ence,  and  promoting  the  happinefs  of  his  repenting, 
dutiful,  obedient  children. 

Elimelech  feeks  and  finds  refuge  in  Moab,  for  "  the 
earth  is  the  Lord's  and  the  fulnefs  thereof ;"  and  he 
has  given  commandment,  "  Let  mine  outcafts  dwell 
with  thee,  Moab  j"  and  that  one  word  difarms  in  an 
inftant  national  animofity,  reprefles  the  rage  of  the 
lion,  quenches  the  violence  of  fire.  The  fugitive  of 
Bethlehem- Judah  finds  kindnefs  and  protedion  among 
inveterate  enemies  ;  Daniel  ileeps  fecure  amongft  the 
fierceft  of  the  favage  tribes  ;  and  the  three  children  of 
the  captivity  walk  unhurt  in  the  midft  of  the  flaming 
furnace. 

We  fee,  at  firfl,  nothing  but  one  of  thofe  inflances 
which  every  day  occur,  of  the  fad  reverfes  to  which 
individuals,  families,  flates  are  liable  ;  the  downfall 
and  diftrefs  of  an  ancient  and  reputable  houfe,  ftrug- 
ghng  with  penury,  and  forced  into  exile  ;  but  we 
foon  difcover,  that  the  eternal  eye  is  fixed  on  a  nobler 
objed,  that  the  hand  of  omnipotence  is  preparing  the 
materials  and  laying  the  foundation  of  a  more  mag- 
nificent fabric  ;  that  infinite  wifdom  is  bringing  low 
the  royal  houfe  of  Bethlehem,  only  to  reftore  it  with 
greater  fplendour. 

We  have  before  us  at  once  the  cure  of  pride  and  of 
defpair.  Behold,  O  man  of  an  hundred  anceftors, 
and  of  an  hundred  thoufand  acres,  behold  EHmelech, 
the  fon  of  Abraham,  poor  and  defplfed  ;  the  head  ot 
the  tribe  of  Judah,  a  ilranger  in  a  ftrange  land,  ex- 
ifting  through  fuiferance,  fupplied  through  foreign 
bounty  ;  and  remember  by  what  a  brittle  tenure  thy 
privileges  and  pofTeffions  are  held.  Confider,  child 
of  adverfity,  whom  no  man  knows,  whom  no  one  re- 
gards, confider  yonder  neglefted,  reduced,  extinguiih- 
cd  family,  and  behold  from  the  afhes  of  the  expiring 
phcEnix,  an  immortal  offspring  arifing,  whofe  flight: 
neither  time  nor  fpace   can  limit,  and  feel  thine  ov.a 

importance. 


94  Hiflory  cf  Ruth,  LfiCT.  VII. 

importance,  and  aim  only  at  high  things,  and  truflin 
omnipotence  ,for  the  execution  of  its  own  eternal 
purpofe. 

In  a  country  and  among  a  people  where  names  were 
not  mere  arbitrary  founds,  but  conveyed  a  meaning 
connefted  \Vith  character,  v/ith  hiftory,  with  expefta- 
tion,  thofe  of  Elinieiech,  "  my  God  is  king,"  and  of 
his  wife  Naomi,  "  the  pleafant  one,"  from  their  pe- 
culiar import,  muft  have  a  reference  to  certain  cir- 
cumftances  in  their  hidory  which  are  not  recorded. 
The  former  might  be  dilated  by  the  fpirit  of  prophe- 
cy, and  be  fignificant,  without  the  intention  of  them 
who  impofed,  or  of  him  who  bore  it,  of  the  future 
greatnefs  to  which  the  family,  through  the  favour  of 
Heaven,  fhould  arife,  in  the  perfons  of  David,  of  Solo- 
mon, and  that  long  fucceflion  of  princes  which  finally 
centered,  and  was  abforbed,  in  the  perfon  of  Chriil, 
David's  fon  ;  yet  David's  Lord.  The  particulars  of 
his  own  flory  that  have  reached  us,  are  too  few  and 
too  general  to  admit  of  our  difcerning  any  reference  or 
application  of  his  name  to  his  character,  office  or  con- 
dition :  but  we  know  enough  of  the  character  and 
hiftory  of  Naomi  to  juftify  the  fuitablenefs  of  the  ap- 
pellation to  her  perfon,  difpofitions  and  final  attain- 
ments. 

In  the  difafters  which  befal,  and  the  fucceffes  which 
attend  certain  families  and  individuals,  we  behold  an 
apparent  partiality  of  diftribution  that  confounds  and 
overwhelms  us.  Death  enters  into  that  houfe,  paffes 
from  couch  to  couch,  fpares  neither  root  nor  branch  ; 
the  infatiate  fiend  never  fays  it  is  enough.  Whatever 
that  poor  man  attempts,  be  the  fcheme  ever  fo  judi- 
cioufly  formed,  ever  fo  diligently  profecuted,  uniform- 
ly fails  ;  the  winds  as  they  change,  the  liars  in  their 
courfes  fight  againft  him.  The  very  miftakes  of  his 
neighbour  turn  out  profperoufly,  his  fails  are  always 
full,  his  children  multiply,  his  wealth  increafes,  his 
mountain  Hands  ftrong.  Is  God  therefore  unwife, 
capricious,  partial  or  unjuft  .?  No,  but  we  are  blind, 

contraded. 


LecT.  VII.  Bi/iory  of  Ruth.  95 

contraded,  prefumptuous.  We  can  difccrn,  can  com- 
prehend, only  here  and  there  a  little  fragment  of  his 
works,  we  are  gone,  before  the  event  has  explained 
itfelf  5  it  requires  the  capacity,  the  eternity  of  God 
himfelf  to  take  in  the  mighty  whole  of  his  plan. 

The  houfe  of  EHmelech  exhibits  an  affeding  in- 
ftance  of  the  inequality  we  have  been  mentioning. 
The  fad  account  of  famine,  of  banifhment,  of  degrada- 
tion, of  dependence,  is  at  length  clofed  v/ith  death. 
Difeafe  of  body,  co-operating  with  diftrefs  of  mind, 
probably  the  effefl  of  it,  fhortens  his  days,  and  termi- 
nating his  own  worldly  mifery,  dreadfully  aggravate;^ 
the  woes  of  the  unhappy  furvivors*  Wretched  moth- 
er, left  to  ftruggle  alone  with  poverty,  folitude,  danger, 
and  negled  :  far  from  friends,  encompaifed  with  ene- 
mies, loaded  with  the  charge  of  two  fatherlefs  children, 
not  more  the  objefts  of  affedion,  than  the  fources  of 
anxiety  and  care  !  While  Elimelech  lived,  penury  was 
hardly  felt  as  a  burden  ;  in  exile  thou  wert  always  at 
home  ;  fecluded  from  fociety,  the  converfation  of  one 
dill  difpelled  the  gloom.  Thy  fons  afforded  only  de- 
light, becaufe  that  delight  was  participated  in,  by  him 
who  had  a  common  intereft  with  you  in  them  :  but 
all  is  now  changed,  every  load  is  accumulated  feven- 
fold,  every  comfort  is  embittered,  every  profpecl  i>^ 
clouded  :  the  pad  prefents  nothing  but  regret  ;  the 
future  difclofes  nothing  but  defpair. 

She  feems  to  have  given  up  at  this  period  all 
thoughts  of  returning  to  her  native  country,  and,  mak- 
ing a  virtue  of  dire  neceffity,  attempts  to  naturalize 
her  family  in  the  land  of  Moab,  by  allying  her  fons, 
through  marriage,  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  country. 
The  fenfe  of  the  lofs  fire  has  fuftained  gradually  yields 
to  the  lenient  hand  of  time,  and  to  the  fv/eet  hope  of 
feeing  the  houfe  of  her  beloved  hulband  built  up,  and 
his  name  revived  in  the  perfons  of  his  grand-children. 
Alas,  what  is  the  hope  of  man  !  the  flatterer  has  been 
only  decoying  her  into  a  greater  depth  of  woe  ;  her 
two  remaining  props  fink,  one  after  another,  into  the 

duft  ; 


$6  Hi/lory  of  Ruth*  LecT.  VII. 

duft  ;  all  that  the  eyes  defired  is  taken  away  with 
flroke  upon  (Iroke  ;  and,  to  fill  up  the  mcal'ure  of  a 
mother's  wretchedneis,  both  her  fons  die  childlefs, 
and  hope  expires  with  them.  Now  Ihe  is  a  widow  in- 
deed, and  exhauded  nature  finks  under  the  preifure. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  many  interpreters,  that  the  pre- 
mature death  of  the  young  men  was  a  judgment 
from  heaven  to  punifh  their  illegal  intermarriage  with 
ilrange  and  idolatrous  women.  It  becomes  not  man 
to  judge  ;  and  we  know  that  God  exccuteth  only 
righteous  judgment  ;  and  in  wrath  Hill  remembers 
mercy. 

Thus  in  three  fliort  lines  the  facred  hiftorian  has  de- 
livered a  tragic  tale  that  comes  home  to  the  bofom  of 
every  one  that  poffelTes  a  fpaik  of  fenfibihty.  It  is  a 
domeftic  (lory  ;  it  reprefents  fcenes  which  may,  which 
do  happen  every  day.  It  admonifhes  every  one  in 
how  many  points  he  is  vulnerable,  how  defencelefs  he 
is  againil  the  thunderbolts  of  Heaven.  It  awfully 
difplays  the  evil  of  fin,  and  the  wrath  of  God  againd 
all  ungodlinefs  and  unrighteoufnefs  of  man.  If  fuch 
be  the  temporal  effects  of  his  vengeance,  how  bitter 
muff  be  the  cup  which  his  juft  difpleafure  mingles  for 
incorrigible  offenders,  in  a  (late  of  final  retribution  ! 
How  pleafing  to  reflect  that  trials  of  this  fort  do  not 
always  flow  from  anger,  that  they  are  the  wholefome 
feverity  of  a  father,  that  they  aim  at  producing  real 
good,  that  they  in  the  iffue  really  "  yield  the  peacea- 
ble fruits  of  righteoufnefs."  The  darknefs  of  night  at 
length  yields  to  the  glorious  orb  of  day,  the  fhadow 
of  death  is  turned  into  the  morning,  and  the  defolate 
is  as  ihe  who  hath  an  hufband. 

This  makes  way  for  the  introduction  of  the  heroine 
of  this  eventful  hiftory  ;  and  we  become  interefled  in 
her  from  the  very  firf:  moment.  The  Jewifh  writers, 
to  heighten  our  refped  for  Ruth,  perhaps  from  a  piti- 
ful defire  to  exalt  their  own  anceftry,  make  her  the 
daughter  of  a  king  of  Moab,  and  as  they  are  never 
timorous  in  making  affertions,  or  forming  conjeftures 

on 


Lect.  VII.  Hifiory  of  Ruth.  97 

on  fuch  occafions,  they  tell  you  her  father  was  Eglon 
whom  Ehud  flew.  It  is  hardly  probable  that  a  prince 
of  that  country  would  have  given  his  daughter  in 
marriage  to  a  needy  adventurer  who  had  baniflied. 
himfelf  from  his  country  through  neceffity.  But  of 
little  importance  is  it,  whether  ftie  were  born  a  prin- 
cefs  or  no.  Nature  has  adorned  her  with  quahties 
fuch  as  are  not  always  to  be  found  in  the  courts  of 
kings  ;  qualities  which  befl  adorn  high  birth,  and 
which  ennoble  obfcurity  and  indigence ;  fidelity  and 
attachment  ;  a  foul  capable  of  fond  refpeft  for  de- 
parted worth,  and  living  virtue  :  magnanimity  to  fa- 
crifice  every  thing  the  heart  holds  dear,  to  decency, 
friendfliip,  and  religion ;  magnanimity  to  encounter, 
without  repining,  painful  toil  and  humihating  depend- 
ence, in  fulfilhng  the  duties  of  gratitude,  humanity, 
and  piety.  Kow  eloquent  is  flie  when  fhe  fpeaks, 
how  great  when  fhe  fays  nothing,  how  tranfcendently 
exalted  in  all  fhe  thinks,  fpeaks  and  ads  !  With  what 
divine  art,  fhall  I  fay,  is  fhe  introduced  in  the  facred 
drama  ?  After  we  have  been  melted  into  pity  by  the 
calamities  of  Naomi's  family,  and  feen  the  widowed 
mourner  finking  under  wave  upon  wave  ;  and  the 
profpe£t  of  progeny,  the  lafh  darling  hope  of  an  Ifrael- 
itifli  matron,  rudely  torn  from  her,  lo  an  angel  in  the 
form  of  a  damfel  of  Moab,  a  mourner  and  a  widow 
like  herfelf,  appears  to  comfort  her,  and  makes  her 
to  know  by  fvveet  experience  that  he,  that  fhe,  has  not 
loft  all,  who  has  found  a  kind  and  faithful  friend. 
What  is  the  found  of  the  trumpet,  and  a  long  train  of 
mute  and  fplendid  harbingers,  compared  to  the  fimple 
preparation  of  unaffeded  nature  !  Let  us  wait  her  ap- 
proach in  filent  expedation  ;  and  mufe  on  what  is 
paft. 

— Behold  one  generation  of  men  goeth  and  another 
comcth  ;  one  planet  arifmg  as  another  fets,  every  hu- 
man advantage  balanced  by  its  correfponding  incon- 
veniency,  every  Jofs  compenfated  by  a  comfort  that 
grows  out  of  it. 
Vol.  VI.  G  —Behold 


98  Hlfiory  of  Ruth.  Lect.  VII. 

—Behold  the  purpofe  of  the  Eternal  Mind  main- 
taining its  ground  amidft  all  the  toflings  and  tempefts 
of  this  troubled  ocean,  triumphing  over  oppofition, 
ferving  and  promoting  itfelf  by  the  wrath  of  man  and 
the  malice  of  hell,  out  of  darknefs  rifmg  into  luftre, 
"  out  of  weaknefs  made  ftrong,"  by  the  energy  of 
the  great  firft  caufe,  acquiring  life,  vigour  and  prof- 
perity  from  the  extindion  of  means,  from  the  de- 
flruftion  and  death  of  fecondary  caufes. 

Attend  to  the  great  leading  objeft  of  divine  revela- 
tion, to  which  all  refer,  to  which  all  are  fubfervient, 
in  which  all  are  abforbed  and  loft.  I  will  make  men- 
tion of  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob  ;  of  Mofes  and  the 
prophets  ;  of  Boaz  and  Ruth.  *'  I  will  make  mention 
of  Rahab  and  Babylon  to  them  that  know  me  ;  behold 
Philiftia  and  Tyre  with  Ethiopia  :  this  man  was  born 
there  ;  and  of  Zion  it  (hall  be  faid.  This  man  was  born, 
in  her  :  and  the  Higheft  himfelf  fliall  eftablifh.  her. 
The  Lord  fhail  count,  when  he  writcth  up  the  people. 
That  this  man  was  born  there.'*  May  our  names  be 
written  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life,  among  the  living 
in  Jerufalem ! 

The  introduftion  of  thefe  perfonages  and  events, 
one  after  another,  were  remote  fteps  of  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  gofpel  of  peace.  And  every  perfon  now 
born  into  the  church  of  Chrift,  and  every  event  now 
taking  place  in  the  adminiftration  of  human  affairs, 
is  a  little  fpace  in  the  great  fcale  of  eternal  Providence, 
and  a  gradual  preparation  for  the  final  confummation 
of  all  things.  Let  "  thy  kingdom  come,'*  O  God  ! 
Let  Satan's  kingdom  be  deftroyed  ;  let  the  kingdom 
of  grace  be  advanced,  om'felves  and  others  brought 
into,  and  preferved  in  it,  and  let  tb^  kingdom  of  glory 
be  haftened  !    Amen  ! 


Hiftory 


Hiftory  of  Ruth, 


LECTURE        VIIL 


RUTH    i.    14 18. 

And  they  lift  tip  their  voice,  and  wept  again  :  and  Orpah 
kijfed  her  mother-in-law  ;  but  Ruth  clave  unto  her. 
And  jhe  faid.  Behold,  thy  Jijiei'-in-law  is  gone  back  unto 
her  people,  and  unto  her  gods  :    return  thou  after  thy 

fijler -in-law.  And  Ruth  f aid.  Entreat  me  not  to  leave 
thee,  or  to  ret  ur7i  from  following  after^thee  :  for  whither 
thou  goejl,  I  will  go  ;  and  where  thou  lodgefi,  I  will 
lodge  :  thy  people  Jhall  be  my  people,  and  thy  God  my 
God :  where  thou  diefi,  will  I  die,  and  there  will  I  be 
buried  :  the  Lord  do  fo  to  me,  and  more  alfo,  if  ought 
but  death  part  thee  and  me.    Whenfhefaw  that  fhe  was 

Jiedfafily  minded  to  go  with  her,  then  fhe  leftfpeaking 
unto  her. 

1  HE  calm,  untumultuous,  unglarlng  fcenes  of  pri- 
vate life,  afford  lefs  abundant  matter  for  the  pen  of  the 
hiftorian,  than  intrigues  of  (late,  fenatorial  contention, 
or  the  tremendous  operations  of  the  tented  field,  but 
they  fupply  the  moralift  and  the  teacher  of  religion 
with  move  pleafmg,  more  ample,  and  more  generally 
interefting  topics  of  ufeful  information,  and  falutary 
inftruclion.  What  princes  arc,  what  ftatefmen  medi- 
tate, what  heroes  achieve,  is  rather  an  objecl  of  curiofi- 
G  2  ty 


I  GO  Hi/iory  of  Ruth.  Lect.  VIIIv 

ty  than  of  utility.  They  never  can  become  examples 
to  the  bulk  of  mankind.  It  is  when  they  have  de- 
fcended  from  their  public  eminence,  when  they  have 
retired  to  their  private  and  domeftic  ftation,  when  the 
potentate  is  loft  in  the  man,  that  they  become  objeds 
of  attention,  patterns  for  imitation,  or  beacons  fet  up 
for  admonition  and  caution. 

For  the  fame  reafon,  the  meek,,  the  modeft,  the 
noifelefs  exhibition  and  exercife  of  female  excellence, 
occupy  a  fmaller  fpace  in  the  annals  of  human  nature 
than  the  noify,  builling,  forenfic  purfuits  and  employ- 
ments of  the  other  fex.  Bift  when  feminine  worth  is 
gently  drawn  out  of  the  obfcurity  which  it  loves,  and 
.idvantagcouily  placed  in  the  light  which  it  naturally 
fhuns,  O  how  amiable,  how  irrefiftible,  how  attractive 
it  is.!  .A  \nfe  and  good  woman  ihines,  by  not  fecking 
to  ftine  ;  is  moft  eloquent  when  flie  is  filent,  and  ob- 
tains all  her  will,  by  yielding,,  by  fubmiffion,  by  pa- 
tience, by  felf-denial. 

Scripture,  as  it  excels  in  every  thing,  fo  it  peculiarly 
excels  in  delineating  and  unfolding  the  female  charac- 
ter, both  in  refpe6l  of  the  quantity  exhibited,  and  of 
the  dehcacy,  force  and  effeft  of  the  defigm  We  have 
nlrcady  feen  this  exemplified,  in  a  variety  of  inftances 
in  the  dignified  conjugal  attachment  and  refpecl,  in 
the  matron-like,  confcious,  impatient  faperiority  of 
Sarah — in  the  maternal  partiality,  eagernefs  and  ad- 
drefs  of  Rebekah — in  the  jealous  difcontent  and  i-m- 
patlence  of  Rachel — in  the  winning  condefcenfion, 
and  the  melting  commiferation  of  Pharaoh*s  daugh- 
ter— in  the  patriotic  ardour,  the  prophetic  elevation, 
the  maglfterial  dignity  of  Deborah,  the  wife  of  Lapi- 
doth — in  the  unrelenting  firmnefs,  and  the  daring, 
enterprifmg  fpirit  of  Jael,  the  wife  of  Heber. 

Female  vice  and  worthlefsnefs  are  delineated  on  the 
facred  page  with  equal  {kill,  truth  and  juftice,  from 
the  infolence  of  Hagar,  and  the  treachery  of  Deliah, 
down  to  the  implacable  vengeance  of  Herodias,  and 
the  infatiate  cruelty  of  her  accurfed  daughter.. 

Three 


liECT.  VIII.  Hiftory  of  Ruth,  Joi 

Three  more  female  portraits  are  now  prefented  for 
our  infpedlion,  and  our  improvement ;  all  expreflive 
of  charaiSlers  elTentially  different,  all  pofTefTrng  features 
of  flriking  refemblance,  all  exhibiting  qualities  which 
create  and  keep  alive  an  inter eil,  all  copies  from  na- 
ture, all  pourtrayed  by  the  hand  of  him  who  knows 
what  is  in  man. 

We  have  v/itneffed  the  wretchednefs  and  fympa- 
thized  in  the  forrows  of  Naomi,  my  pleafaitt  one^xo.^MZ" 
ed  from  rank  and  fulnefs  to  obfcurity  and  indigence, 
banijfhed  from  her  country  and  friends,  a  ilranger  in  a 
ftrange  land,  robbed  of  her  hufband,  bereaved  of  her 
children  ;  having  no  proteQor  fave  Heaven,  no  hope 
or  refuge  but  in  the  peaceful  grave.  Behold  the 
thrice  widowed  mourner  bowing  the  head,  and  hid- 
ing the  face  in  filent  grief.  She  is  dumb,  flie  opens 
not  her  mouth,  becaufe  the  Lord  hath  done  it.  The 
miierable  partner-s  of  her  woe  only  increafe  and  em- 
bitter it.  Two  young  women,  like  herfelf  widov.'s, 
childlefs,  comfortlefs  ;  fondly  attached  to  her,  and 
tenderly  beloved  by  her,  becaufe  fondly  attached  to 
the  memory  of  their  hufbands  ;  but  their  mutual  af- 
fedion  rendered  a  punifhment,  not  a  pleafure,  by  the 
preffure  of  poverty  and  the  bitternefs  of  negled.  At 
length  (he  is  roufed  from  the  ftupefaction  of  grief  by 
tidings  from  her  country,  from  her  dear  native  city, 
and  a  ray  of  hope  difpels  the  gloom  of  her  foul.  She 
'*  hears  in  the  country  of  Moab  how  that  the  Lord 
had  vifited  his  people  in  giving  them  bread." 

In  the  wifdom  and  goodnefs  of  Providence,  there  is 
u  healing  balm  provided  for  every  wound.  The  leni- 
ent hand  of  time  foothes  the  troubled  foul  to  peace  ; 
the  agitation  of  the  mind  at  laft  wearies  it  out,  and  lulls 
it  afleep,  and  its  weaknefs  becomes  its  ilrength. 
Though  in  mifery  we  cleave  to  the  love  of  life,  and 
having  loft  our  comforts  ,one  after  another,  we  are 
ftill  enabled  to  look  forward  v/ith  fond  expectation  to 
a  new  fource  of  joy.  And  when  all  temporal  hope  is 
extinguiflied,  and  reluctantly  given  up,  the  fpirit  af- 

ferts 


102  Wjfory  of  Ruth,  Lect.  VIII, 

ferts  its  own  immortality,  and  reds  in  hope  beyond 
the  grave.  Naomi  is  reduced  to  a  melancholy,  mor- 
tifying alternative  ;  of  continuing  a  poor,  deferted  ex- 
ile in  the  land  of  Moab,  or  of  returning  to  Bethlehem- 
Judah,  ftripped  of  all  her  wealth,  all  her  glory  ;  to  be 
an  objedl,  at  beft,  of  pity,  perhaps  of  contempt.  On 
this  however  fhe  refolves,  flattering  herfelf  that  change 
of  place  and  change  of  objects  may  alleviate  her  dif- 
trefs. 

The  two  young  MoablteflTes,  in  uniting  themfelves 
to  men  of  Ifrael,  had  renounced  their  own  kindred 
and  country,  perhaps  their  native  gods  j  and  therefore 
liiten  with  joy  to  the  propofal  of  their  mother-in-law, 
to  return  to  Canaan.  It  is  the  more  pleafmg  to  ob- 
ferve  this  union  of  fentiment  and  ajffedion,  that  the 
relation  in  queftion  is  feldom  found  favourable  to  cor- 
diality and  harmony.  It  furnilhes  a  prefumptive  proof 
of  the  goodnefs  of  all  the  three,  and  they  had  indeed  a 
moft  mournful  bond  of  union  among  themfelves — 
common  lofs,  common  mifery ;  and  the  heart  feems 
to  have  felt  and  acknowledged  the  ties  which  alliance 
had  formed  and  the  hand  of  death  had  rivetted. 

Behold  then  the  mother  and  her  daughters  turning 
their  back  on  the  painfully  pleafmg  fcenes  of  joys  and 
forrows  paft,  unattended,  unprotected,  unbefriended, 
difregarded,  as  fad  a  retinue  as  ever  wandered  froni 
place  to  place.  They  are  hardly  in  motion  from  their 
place,  when  Naomi,  penetrated  with  a  lively  fenfe  of 
gratitude  for  friendfhip  fo  generous  and  difinterefted, 
overwhelmed  with  the  profpg6t  of  the  ftill  greater  mif- 
ery in  which  thefe  dutiful  young  women  were  about 
to  involve  themfelves,  fi-orn  their  love  to  her,  and  un- 
willing to  be  outdone  in  kindnefs,  earneftly  entreats 
them  to  return  home  again,  urging  upon  them  every 
confideration  that  reafon,  that  affection,  that  prudence 
could  fuggeft,  to  induce  them  to  feparate  from  a  wretch 
fo  friendlefs  and  forlorn,  fo  helplefs,  fo  hopelefs  as 
herfelf.  To  fufFer  alone  is  now  all  the  confolation  fhe 
either  expects  or  feems  to  wilh  ;  the  deititute  condition 

or 


Lect.  Vill.  Hi/iory  of  Ruth,  1.03 

of  thefe  fifters  in  afflidion,  is  now  Jier  heavlefl;  bur^ 
then.     Indeed  the  fituation  of  thefe  three  female  pil» 
grims  has  in  it  fomething  wonderfully  pathetic  and 
interefting.     There  they  are  upon  the  road,  on  foot^ 
with  ail  the  weaknefs,  ignorance,  timidity,  uncertain- 
ty  and  irrefolution  of  their  fex  ;  not  knowing  which 
way  to  bend  their  courfe,  expofed  to  the  craft,  violence 
or  infult  of  every  one  they  met ;  fmldng  under   the 
recollection  of  what  they  had  endured,  fhrinking  fvom 
the  apprehenfion  of  what  might  yet  be  before  them ,: 
attempting  to  comfort  each  other,  and,  in  that,  every 
one   feeking  ^  fome   flender    confolation  for    herfelf. 
Think  on  the  failure  of  bread,  on  the  failure  of  mon- 
ey, on  the  approaches  of  night,  on  the  natural  terrors 
and  dangers  of  darknefs,  on  the  favagenefs   of  wild 
beafls,  and  the  more  formidable  favagenefs  of  wicked 
men.     Think  on  the  unkindnefs  and  indifference  of 
an  unfeeling  world,  and  the  darker  frowns  of  angry 
Heaven.     We  are  difpofed  to  weep  while  we  refled; 
on  Jacob,  a  fugitive  from  his  father's  houfe,  compof- 
ing  his  head  to  rell  upon  a  pillar  of  (lone,  under  the 
canopy  of  the  open  fky  ;  at  reflecting  on  Jofeph,  torn 
from  his  father's  embrace,  fold  into  llavery,  caft  into 
a  dungeon  ;  but  I  find  here  fomething  infinitely  more 
deplorable.     They  were  men,  fluflied  with  youthful 
fpirits,  with  youthful  hope  :  the  vigour  of  their  minds 
had  not  been  broken  down  by  the  iron  hand  of  afflic- 
tion, their  profpeds  were  enlivened  with  the  promifes 
and  vifions  of  the  Almighty  ;  but  thefe  unhappy  wan- 
derers have  drunk  deep  of  the  cup  of  adverfity  ;  their 
fociety  is  worfe  than  folitude,  defpair  hangs  over  all 
their  future  profpecls.     Stand  flill  and  flied  the  tear 
of  compafTion  over  them,  ye  daughters  of  affluence, 
profperity  and  eafe,  who  ftart  at  a  Ihadow,  who  fcream 
at  the  fight  of  a  harmlefs  moufe,  who  tremble  at  the 
rufthng  of  a  leaf  fhaken  by  the  wind  ;  ye  v/ho  never 
knew  the  heart  of  a  flranger,  the  keen  biting  of  the 
wind  of  heaven,  the  flern  afpect  of  hunger,  the  furly 
blow,  or  fcornful  look  of  pride  and  cruelty.     Or  rath- 
er, 


i04  Hijhry  of  Ruth.  LECTrVlU. 

er,  weep  over  them,  ye  whofe  wounds  are  ftill  bleed- 
ing, to  whom  weariibme  days  and  nights  have  been  ap- 
pointed, who  by  the  experience  of  mifery,  have  learn- 
ed to  pity  and  to  fuccour  the  miferable.  May  the  God 
of  mercy,  the  friend  of  the  orphan,  the  judge  of  the 
widow,  the  refuge  of  the  diftreired,  have  mercy  upon 
them,  and  conduct  them  in  fafety  to  their,  defired 
haven. 

Which  fhall  we  mofl  admire,  the  generofity  and 
difintereftednefs  of  the  mother,  or  the  fteadinefs,  fpir- 
it  and  refolution  of  the  daughters  ?  How  pleafurable 
is  ftrife  of  a  certain  kind,  the  ftrife  of  good  will,  of 
magnanimity,  of  gratitude,  of  piety,  of  felf-denial  ! 
The  language,  the  fentiments,  are  the  language  and 
fentiments  of  nature,  they  flow  from  the  heart,  and 
reach  the  heart.  "  And  Naomi  faid  unto  her  two 
daughters-in-law.  Go,  return  each  to  her  mother's 
houfc  :  the  Lord  deal  kindly  with  you,  as  ye  have 
dealt  with  the  dead,  and  with  me.  The  Lord  grant 
you  that  ye  may  find  reft,  each  of  you,  in  the  houfe  of 
her  hulband.  Then  ?i\t  killed  them.  And  they  lift 
up  their  voice  and  wept."  * 

The  good  woman  herfelf  admits  that  enough  of  re- 
fpeft  has  been  paid  to  filial  and  conjugal  tendernefs  j 
fhe  wifhes  and  prays,  as  a  recompenfe  for  their  kind- 
iiefs  to  the  living,  and  devotednefs  to  the  memory  of 
the  dead,  more  lalting  and  more  aufpicious  connexions 
with  hufbands  of  their  own  country.  She  propofes 
not,  recommends  not  the  atTecired,  conftrained,  in- 
voluntary retirement  and  fequeftration  of  prudifn, 
fqueamilh  virtue  ;  and  they,  on  their  part,  aflume  no 
unnatural  airs  of  immortal  grief ;  they  form  no  flim- 
fy  fufpicious  vows  of  undeviating,  unalterable  attach- 
ment ;  make  no  clamorous,  unmeaning,  deceptious 
proteftation  of  love  extinguifhed,  and  never  to  be  re- 
kindled, the  pitiful  artifice  of  little  minds  to  flatter 
themfelves,  and  catch  the  admiration  of  others.  How 
much  more  emphatical  the  filent,  unprotefting  reply 

of 

*  Verfe  8,  9. 


Lect.  VIII.  Hi/lory  of  Ruth.  105 

of  Orpah  and  Ruth  !  "  She  IdfTed  them  ;  and  they 
lift  up  their  voice  and  wept."  What  charming  elo- 
quence is  heard,  is  feen,  is  felt  in  thofe  tears  !  Have 
thefe  lovely  damfels  lefs  regard  for  their  departed 
lords,  are  they  more  eager  to  form  new  alliances,  that 
they  fay  nothing  ?  1  cannot  believe  it.  Noify  grief  is 
quickly  over,  foon  fpends  itfelf.  Sincerity  leldom 
calls  in  the  aid  of  exclamation,  vehemence  and  vows  ; 
but  dubious,  daggering  fidelity  is  glad  to  fupport  itfelf 
with  the  parade  of  woe,  and  the  pomp  of  declamation. 

Their  perfevering,  determined,  unprotefting  friend- 
ihip  but  endears  them  the  more  to  their  venerable  par- 
ent, and  inclines  her  the  more  powerfully  to  refift  their 
incUnation,  and  prevent  the  facrifice  which  they  were 
difpofed  to  make  ;  and  again  flie  has  recourfe  to  more 
earneft  and  tender  expoftulation,  refolved  tooifer  up 
a  noble  facrifice  to  maternal  tendernefs  in  her  turn. 
*'  And  Naomi  faid.  Turn  again,  my  daughters  :  why 
will  ye  go  with  me  ?  are  there  yet  any  more  fons  in 
my  womb,  that  they  may  be  your  hufbands  ?  Turn 
again,  my  daughters,  go  your  way  ;  for  I  am  too  old 
to  have  an  hulband.  If  I  fhould  fay,  1  have  hope, 
if  I  fhould  have  a  hufband  alfo  to-night,  and  fnould 
alfo  bear  fons  ;  would  ye  tarry  for  them  till  they  were 
grown  ?  would  ye  flay  for  them  from  having  huf- 
bands ?  nay,  my  daughters  :  for  it  grieveth  me  much 
for  your  fakes,  that  the  hand  of  the  Lord  is  gone  out 
againft  me."* 

What  fweet  touches  of  unfophiflicated  nature  prcfs 
upon  the  heart,  in  perufing  this  addrefs  !  beyond  the 
pomp  and  power  of  art  to  reach.  Who  is  not  melted 
at  hearing  the  undiffembled  waitings  of  a  good  and 
honeft  mind,  mourning  for  others,  not  itfelf ;  calmly 
furrendering  its  own  interefl  in  the  joys  of  life,  but 
anxioufly  defirous  to  procure  and  preferve  them  for 
thofe  whom  flie  loved  as  her  own  foul  ;  nobly  refign- 
ing  that  cordial  of  cordials,  virtuous  friendfliip,  when 
it  could  not  be  enjoyed  but  to  the  detriment  of  thofe 

v.'ho 

*  Verfe  ii — 13. 


%o6  Hi/hry  of  Ruth.  L&CT.  VIII. 

who  felt  and  expreffed  It ;  compofed  to  the  profpefl: 
Ajid  lufFering  of  folitary  anguifh,  provided  her  amiable 
children  were  redored  to  the  rank,  affluence  and  com- 
fort which  they  fo  well  deferved.  How  poor  and  con- 
temptible are  the  contentions  for  precedency  and  pre-' 
eminence,  the  emulation  of  fortune  and  drefs,  the  rage 
of  admiration  and  conqueft,  compared  to  this  !  How 
pleafant  is  it  to  fee  an  humble  fortune  dignified  and 
fupported  by  generodty  and  greatnefs  of  mind  ! 

The  touchflone  is  now  applied  to  the  affedion  of  the 
two  fillers,  and  their  charaders  and  merits  are  finally 
difclofed.  Orpah  fuifers  herfelf  to  be  perfuaded  ;  with 
regret  we  behold  her  refolution  overcome  ;  we  behold 
her  feparating  from  her  mother-in-law,  v/ith  the  vale- 
diftory  kil's  of  peace,  and  returning  to  her  country 
and  her  gods  ;  and  we  hear  of  her  no  more.  But 
Ruth  cleaves  to  her  new  choice,  unmoved  by  the  ex- 
ample of  her  filler,  or  the  entreaties  of  her  mother, 
llie  perftlts  in  her  purpofe  ;  the  defertion  of  Orpah 
only  knits  her  heart  the  fafter  to  her  adopted  parent, 
and  in  words  far  fweetcr  than  the  nightingale's  fong,- 
ihe  breathes  out  her  unalterable  refolution  to  live  and 
to  die  with  her.  How  could  Naomi  find  in  her  heart 
to  make  another  attempt  to  Ihake  off  fo  lovely  a  com- 
panion ?  How  delighted  muft  fhe  have  been,  in  yield- 
ing the  triumph  of  kindnefs  to  a  pleader  fo  irrefiilible! 
"  And  Ruth  faid.  Entreat  me  not  to  leave  thee,  or  to 
return  from  following  after  thee  :  for  whither  thou 
goefl,  I  will  go  ;  and  where  thou  lodged,  I  will  lodge  ; 
thy  people  fliall  be  m.y  people,  and  thy  God  my  God  j 
wh<;re  thou  died,  will  I  die,  and  there  will  I  be  buri- 
ed :  the  Lord  do  fo  to  me,  and  more  alfo,  if  aught  but 
death  part  thee  and  me."  * 

The  mother  is  every  way  outdone,  overcome,  and 
contends  no  longer^ — to  perfift  farther  had  been  cruel- 
ty, not  frienddiip  ;     and   thus  mutu;*l  fympathy  and 
deliberate  choice  have,  under  the  direction  of  all-ruling  ■ 
Providence,  'formed  an  union  dearer  than  the  ties  of 

intered, 
*  Verfe   r6,  i  7.' 


Lect.  Vin.  Hijiory  of  Ruth,  loj 

intereft,  or  even  the  bonds  of  nature  know  :  and  thus 
the  fame  breath  which  extinguifhes  the  fainter  fpark, 
blows  up  the  ftronger  into  a  purer,  brighter  flame  ; 
and  thus  the  God  who  has  all  hearts  and  all  events  in 
his  hand,  ever  rears  a  refuge  for  the  miferable,  pro- 
vides a  remedy  againfi  defpair,  and  extracts  a  precious 
eifence  from  calamity,  which  operates  its  own  cure, 
"  When  Ihe  faw  that  fhe  was  ftedfaftly  minded  to  go 
with  her,  then  fhe  left  fpeaking  unto  her."*  And 
thus  Ruth  ftands  without  an  equal,  without  a  rival. 
And  how  has  ihe  gained  the  glorious  fuperiority  over 
a  filler  ?  By  a  lofty  tone  and  an  overbearing  fpirit,  by 
the  poifoned  whifpcr,  and  the  dark  infinuation  ;  by 
fmoothnefs  of  forehead  and  malignity  of  heart  ?  No, 
but  by  perfeverance  in  well-doing,  and  adherence  to 
reditude  ;  by  modeft  firmnefs,  and  heart-affe^ling , 
fimphcity  ;  by  undiiTembled  affedion  and  unaffeded 
piety.  O  goodnefs,  how  pure,  how  fincere,  how  fatis- 
fadory  arc  the  honours  which  crown  thy  head,  and 
dilate  thy  heart  ! 

It  is  impoffible  to  tire  in  contemplating  an  objed  fo 
tranfcendently  excellent.  In  that  fair  form  all  the 
feminine  virtues  and  graces  love  to  refide.  We  have 
pointed  out  fome  of  them ;  let  us  meditate  for  a  mo- 
ment, on  that  which  is  the  crown  and  glory  of  all  the 
reft.  Eflimable  for  her  conjugal  fidelity,  and  filial  at- 
tachment ;  great  in  her  voluntary  renunciation  of  the 
world,  and  patient  fubmiffion  to  poverty,  hardfhip, 
and  contempt ;  how  fuperlatively  great,  how  fupreme- 
ly  eflimable  does  fhe  appear,  arrayed  in  the  robe  of 
unfeigned  piety,  and  triumphant  faith  in  God  !  The 
world  may  perhaps  condemn  her  for  preferring  the  fo- 
ciety,  country,  and  profpeds  of  fo  poor  a  woman  as 
Naomi  to  the  friendfhip  of  her  own  kindred,  the  pof- 
fefTions  of  her  native  home,  the  allurements  of  prefent 
eafe  and  comfort.  Had  fhe  conferred  with  flefh  and 
Wood,  how  very  different  had  the  decifion  been  !  But 
the  fame  divine  principle  which  caufed  Mofes  to  "  re- 

fufe 

*  Verfe  18. 


,lo8  Bifiory  of  Ruth.  LiiCT.  VIIL 

fufe  to  be  called  the  fon  of  Pharaoh's  daughter  ;"  and 
which  taught  him  "  to  efteem  the  reproach  of  Chrift 
greater  riches  than  the  treafures  of  Egypt,"  determin- 
ed this  amiable  creature  to  withdraw  from  the  com- 
panions of  her  youth,  the  protedion  of  her  father's 
houfe,  and  the  religious  worihip  of  her  anceftors  ;  and 
to  follow  a  deflitute  forlorn  widow  from  country  to 
country,  to  cafl  her  fubfiftence  upon  the  care  of  Prov- 
idence, and  to  look  for  her  reward  beyond  the  grave. 

Obferve  thefe  diftincl  qualities  of  the  religious  prin- 
ciple by  which  fhe  was  actuated. 

I.  It  was  deliberate^  the  refult  of  refledion,  compan- 
ion and  choice,  not  the  prejudice  of  education,  the 
determination  of  felf-intereft,  nor  the  momentary  ef- 
feft  of  levity  aud  caprice.  Her  prejudices,  her  par^ 
tialities,  her  worldly  interefts  were  all  clearly  on  the 
other  fide.  The  idolatrous  rites  of  Moab  v/ere  fafci- 
nating  to  a  young  mind,  not  yet  beyond  a  tafle  for 
pleafure ;  the  afped:  of  the  religion  of  Canaan  was 
rather  ungainly  and  forbidding,  and  to  adopt  it  impli- 
ed the  renunciation  of  all  that  the  heart  naturally 
holds  dear.  When  fhe  therefore  thus  folemnly  af? 
iirms,  "  Your  God  fhall  be  my  God,"  it  is  in  effect 
faying,  *'  I  have  counted  the  coft,  I  know  whom  I 
have  believed.  I  have  opened  my  mouth  unto  the 
Lord,  and  I  cannot  go  back.  I  have  fubfcribed  with 
my  hand  to  the  God  of  Jacob.  Bleffed  be  the  day 
that  I  came  into  connexion  with  an  Ifraelitifh  family. 
It  has  indeed  cofl  me  many  tears,  pierced  through  my 
heart  with  many  forrows,  it  is  banifhing  me  from  my 
dear  native  clime,  from  the  endearments  of  parental 
affedion,  from  eafe,  honour  and  abundance,  driving 
me  among  ftr  angers,  expofing  me  to  flruggle  with  un- 
certainty, anxiety,  necellity,  neglect  and  fcorn  ;  but  my 
refolution  is  fixed  :  none  of  thefe  things  move  me  ; 
every  facrifice,  every  lofs,  every  difgrace  is  infinitely 
more  than  compeufated  by  having  Ifrael's  God  for  my 
Gcd."     Which  leads  to  obfervv^  a 

Second 


Lect.  Vni.  Hijlory  of  Ruth.  109 

Second  feature  of  Ruth's  religious  chara£ler  ;  was  it 
Jieady  and  perfevering.  It  might  at  firft  have  been 
mere  refped  for  the  opinions  and  pradice  of  the  huf- 
band  of  her  youth  ;  the  mere  decency  that  fuited  an 
adopted  daughter  of  Ifrael ;  but  this  had  long  ceafed 
to  be  a  motive  ;  had  it  amounted  but  to  this,  it  had 
been  buried  in  the  grave  of  her  departed  lord  ;  but 
what  was  at  firft  complaifance  and  decency,  grows  up 
into  inquiry,  inquiry  produces  heiitation,  and  more 
ferious  inquiry,  this  improves  into  convidion,  and  con- 
viftion  is  followed  by  a  determination  not  to  be  moved 
or  fliaken,  and  (he  continues  ftedfaft  to  the  end.  Her 
conftancy,  it  muft  be  allowed,  was  put  to  fevere  trials. 
Orpah  has  gone  back,  Naomi  carries  her  expoftulation 
up  to  importunity,  I  had  almoft  faid,  to  downright 
violence  ;  the  difficulties  and  hardfhips  of  the  way 
were  increafmg  not  diminifliing  upon  her.  Had  not 
"  the  heart  been  eftablifhed  by  grace,'*  fo  many,  fuch 
accumulated  difcouragements,  muft  have  fubdued  the 
ardour  of  her  fpirit,  and  fent  her  back  after  her  fif'- 
ter  ;  but  ftie  has  put  her  hand  to  the  plough,  and  muft 
not  look  back.  Obferve,  flie  does  not  attempt  to 
reafon,  does  not  oppofe  argument  to  argument,  but, 
"  being  fully  perfuaded  in  her  own  mind,"  adheres 
firmly  to  her  point,  and  argues  irrefiftibly  by  not  argu- 
ing at  all,  and  prevails  by  entreaty.  See  that  your 
caufe  be  good,  my  fair  friend,  perfift  in  it,  profecute  it 
thus,  and  be  alfured  of  the  viftory. 

III.  Obferve  finally,  as  Ruth's  religious  principle 
was  deliberate,  was  fteady  and  perfevering,  fo  it  was 
lively .f  efficacious,  pradicaL  We  hear  nothing  of  the 
prattle  of  piety,  nothing  of  the  violence  of  a  young 
and  a  female  profelyte,  no  queftion  of  doubtful  difpu- 
ration  introduced,  about  places  and  modes  of  worfliip, 
about  Jerufalem  and  this  mountain,  nothing  of  the 
religion  that  floats  merely  in  the  head,  and  bubbles 
upon  the  tongue  ;  no,  her  religion  is  feen,  not  heard, 
it  "  works  by  love,  it  purifies  the  heart,  it  overcomes 
the  world."      It  offers  up  a  grand  facrifice  unto  God, 

the 


no  Hijiory  of  Ruth,  Lect.  VJIL 

the  body  arid  ipirit,  afFeclion  and  fubflance,  youth, 
beauty,  parentage,  the  pleafures  and  the  pride  of  life. 
Let  me  fee  a  fingle  inftance  of  this  fort,  and  I  will  be- 
lieve the  convert  more  in  earnelt,  than  by  exhibiting 
all  the  wordy  zeal  of  a  thoufand  polemics. 

Indeed  it  is  by  aftion  that  this  truly  excellent  wom- 
an expreffes  all  her  inward  feelings.  Her  affedion  to 
her  hufoand  is  not  heard  in  loud  lamentation  over  his 
tomb,  but  in  cleaving  to  all  that  remained  of  him,  his 
mother,  his  people,  his  country  and  his  God.  Her 
atFeftion  to  his  mother  is  not  expreifed  in  the  fet 
phrafe  of  condolence  and  compliment ;  but  in  adher- 
ing to  her  when  all  had  forfaken  her,  in  labouring  for 
her  fubfiftence,  in  fubmitting  to  her  counfel :  and  her 
reverence  for  his  God  is  manifefted  not  merely  m 
adopting  the  language  and  obferving  the  rites  of  Ca- 
naan, but  in  relinquifhing  forever,  and  with  abhor- 
rence, the  gods  beyond  the  flood,  and  every  thing  con- 
nedted  with  their  abominable  rites. 

Every  circumflance  of  the  cafe  and  character  under 
review,  adminiflers  plain  and  important  inflrudion. 
And,  being  a  cafe  in  ordinary  life,  Ruth  ftands  forth 
a  pattern  and  inftruftor  to  young  perfons,  in  particu- 
lar, whofe  lit  nation  may  refemble  her  own. 

Young  woman,  you  may  have  married  into  a  ftrange 
family.  You  have,  of  courfe,  adopted  the  kindred, 
the  purfuits,  the  friendfliips,  and  to  a  certain  degree, 
the  religion  of  your  hufband.  It  is  your  duty,  and 
you  will  find  it  your  intereft,  to  let  him  and  his  con- 
nexions know,  from  your  general  deportment,  that 
you  are  fatisfied  v/ith  the  choice  which  you  have  made. 
I.earn  to  give  up  your  own  prejudices  in  favour  of 
country,  of  parentage,  of  cufloms,  of  opinions.  Un- 
lefs  where  the  facred  rights  of  confcience  are  concern- 
ed, deem  no  facrifice  too  great  for  the  maintenance 
or  reiteration  of  domeflic  peace.  As  far  as  lieth  in 
you,  '-'  whither  he  goeth,  go  thou  ;  and  lodge  where 
be  lodgeth  ;  let  his  people  be  thy  people,  and  his  God 
tiiy  God."-    You  will  thereby  preferve  and  fecure  his 

affedion  j 


Lect.  VIIL  Hiftory  of  Ruth.,  Jii 

afFeftion  ;  you  will  harmonize  family  interefts  and  in- 
timacies, inftead  of  diflurbing  them  :  if  yours  be  the 
better  religion,  this  is  the  Tvay  to  bring  over  to  it  the 
man  of  no  religion,  or  of  an  erroneous  one  ;  and  if 
it  be  the  worfe,  your  relinquifliing  it,  on  convidtion, 
will  be  at  once  a  token  of  conjugal  affedion,  a  mark 
of  good  underflanding,  and  a  reafonable  fervic^  to- 
ward God. 

Have  you  had,  in  early  life,  the  calamity  of  becom- 
ing a  widow  ?  It  is  a  diftreffing,  a  delicate  fituation. 
It  calls  for  every  maxim  of  prudence,  every  counfel 
of  friendfhip,  every  caution  of  experience,  every  fup- 
port  of  piety.  If  you  are  a  mourner  indeed,  you  are 
already  guarded  againfl  affectation  ;  you  will  find  ra- 
tional and  certain  relief  in  attending  to,  and  perform- 
ing the  duties  of  your  ftation.  You  will  neither  feek 
a  hafty  cure  of  forrow  by  precipitately  plunging  into 
the  world,  nor  attempt  an  unnatural  prolongation  of 
it  by  affected  retirement  and  fequeflration.  The 
tongue  will  utter  no  rafh  vows  ;  the  pang  of  fepara- 
tion  will  dictate  no  rnfnaring  refolutions  ;  the  will  of 
Providence  will  be  refpedted,  obeyed,  followed.  Re- 
fped  for  the  dead  is  bell  exprcffed  by  dutifulnefs  to 
the  living. 

You  have  before  you  an  ufeful  example  of  firmnefs 
blended  with  female  foftnefs,  of  refolution  heightened 
and  adorned  by  fenfibility.  Lately,  like  Ruth,  you 
had  one  who  thought  and  a£ted  for  you  ;  one  who 
joyfully  endured  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day,  that 
your  body  and  mind  might  enjoy  repofe.  But  now 
neceffit^'  is  laid  upon  you.  You  mull  awake  and  arife 
to  xhiAJi  and  aft  for  yourfelf.  And  here,  as  in  every 
cafe,  Nature  has  annexed  the  recompenfe  to  the  duty. 
The  mental  powers  are  enfeebled,  and  at  length  de- 
ftroyed,  by  difufe  and  inaftion.  Exertion  invigorates 
the  mind,  and  compofes  by  direfting  it.  The  lidlefs- 
nefs  of  indolence  undermines  health  :  the  aftivitv  of 
ufeful  employment  is  the  fmipleft  and  mofl  infallible 
medicine  for  bodily  complaintSv     And  the  molt  direft 

road 


112  Hi/lory  of  Ruth.  Lect.   VIII. 

road  to  an  honourable  and  happy  fecond  connexion, 
probably,  is,  to  guard  carefully  againft  all  vehement 
exprellion  of  either  inclination  or  averfion,  on  the 
fubject. 

All  thefe,  however,  are  merely  leiTons  of  prudence, 
adapted  to  the  life  that  nov/  is  ;  and,  however  import- 
ant in  themfelves,  unlefs  aided  and  fupported  by  a 
higher  principle,  will  conftitute,  at  mod,  the  decent 
kinfwoman,  or  the  refpeftable  fufferer.  In  Ruth  we 
have  this  higher  principle  likevv'ife  beautifully  exempli- 
fied— rational,  modcft,  unafFefted  piety.  True  relig- 
ion fits  well  on  perfons  of  either  fex,  and  in  all  fitua- 
tions  ;  but  its  afpe£l:  is  pecuharly  amiable  in  a  female 
form,  and  in  particular  fituations.  Youth,  beauty 
and  ibrrow  united,  prefent  a  mod  interefting  objed; — 
a  daughter  weeping  at  a  parent's  tomb  ;  a  mother 
mourning  over  "  the  babe  that  milked  her,'*  and 
"  refufing  to  be  comforted  ;"  a  widow  embracing  the 
urn  which  contains  the  afhes  of  the  hufband  of  her 
youth — in  all  their  affliction  we  are  afflicted,  we  cannot 
refrain  from  mingling  our  tears  with  theirs.  Let  re- 
ligion be  infufed  into  thefe  lovely  forms,  and  mark 
how  the  interelt  rifes,  how  the  frame  is  embellifhed, 
how  the  deportment  is  ennobled  !  The  eye  of  that 
dutiful  child  is  turned  upward,  her  heart  is  delivered 
from  oppreffion,  her  trembling  lips  pronounce, 
*'  When  my  father  and  my  mother  forfake  me,  then 
the  Lord  will  take  me  up."  "  My  Father  who  art  in 
Heaven  !"  The  mother  withdraws  from  the  breath- 
lefsclay,  reconciled  to  the  ftroke  which  bereaved  her, 
"  goes  her  way,  and  eats  bread,  and  her  countenance 
is  no  more  fad,"  for  her  Maker  has  faid  to  her.  Why 
weepefl  thou  ?  and  why  eateft  thou  not  ?  and  why  is 
thy  heart  grieved  ?  Am  not  I  better  to  thee  than  ten 
fons  ?" — The  widowed  mourner  "  gives  her  mortal 
intercft  up  ;  and  makes  her  God  her  all." 

Young  woman,  whatever  thy  condition  may  be  ; 
whether  thou  art  in  thy  father's  houfc,  or  married  to 
an  hulband  ;  at  home,  or  in  a  flrange  land  j  in  focie- 

'         ty. 


Lect.  VIII.  Hijlory  of  Ruth.  113 

ty,  or  folitude  ;  followed  or  neglected  ;  be  this  thy 
monitor,  this  thy  guide,  this  thy  refuge — "  The  love 
of  God  fhed  abroad  in  thy  heart  ;'*  "  the  fear  of  God 
which  is  the  beginning  of  wifdom  ;'*  "  the  peace  of 
God  which  paifeth  all  underflanding."  However  eafy, 
gentle,  flexible,  complying,  in  other  refpefts,  where 
your  religious  principles,  where  the  teflimony  of  a 
good  confcience,  where  your  duty  to  your  Creator  are 
concerned,  be  firm  and  refolute,  "  be  ftedfaft  and  un- 
moveable,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the 
Lord.**  Thus  Ihall  youth  be  guarded,  and  beauty 
adorned  ;  thus  (hall  fociety  be  fweetened.  and  folitude 
cheered  ;  thus  (hall  profperity  be  fanctified,  and  ad- 
verfity  foothed  ;  thus  (hall  life,  even  to  old  age  and 
decay,  be  rendered  ufeful  and  refpedable ;  and  thus 
fliall  death  and  the  grave  be  flripped  of  all  that  is  ter- 
tible  in  them. 


Vol.  VI.  H  Hiftory 


Hiftory  of  Ruth. 


LECTURE      IX. 

RUTH    i.    19 2  2. 

.Sc  t/jc)'  ivent  until  they  came  to  Beth-khan.  j4nd  it  cams 
.  to  pafs  IV ben  they  were  come  to  Beth-lebeju,  that 
all  the  city  zuas  ?noved  about  them  ;  and  they  /aid.  Is 
this  Naomi  ?  And  JJ^e  /aid  unto  the?n.  Call  me  not  Naomi y 
call  me  Mara  :  for  the  Almighty  hath  dealt  very  bitter" 
ly  ivith  ?ne.  1  went  out  full,  and  the  Lord  hath  brought  ?he 
fjomc  again  empty  :  why  then  call  ye  me  Naomi,  feeing  the 
Lord  hath  teftified  againji  me,  and  the  Almighty  hath  af- 
flided  me  ?  So  Nao?ni  returned,  and  Ruth  theMoabitefs 
her  daughter-in-law  with  her,  which  returned  out  of 
the  country  of  Moab.  And  they  came  to  Beth-lehem  in 
the  beginning  of  barley -harveft, 

vJF  the  calamities  to  which  human  life  is  expofed,  a 
few  only  are  to  be  accounted  real  evils :  the  reft  are 
imaginary  and  fantaftical.  Want  of  health  is  real 
woe ;  but  what  proportion  do  the  hours  of  pain  and 
ficknefs  bear  to  the  years  of  eafe  and  comfort  and  joy  ? 
AVant  of  bread  is  real  diftrefs,  but  it  is  very  feldom 
the  work  of  nature,  and  therefore  ought  not,  in  juf- 
tice,  to  be  introduced  into  the  lift  of  the  unavoidable 
ills  which  fleHi  is  heir  to.  The  lofs  of  friends  is  a 
fore  evil,  but  even  wounds  from  this  ftiarp-pointed 
weapon  are  clofed  at  length,  by  the  gentle  hand  of 
time,  and  the  tender  confolations  of  religion. 

Whence 


LecT.  IX.  Hi/iory  of  Ruth.  115 

Whence  then  the  unceafing,  the  univerfal  mur- 
murings  of  difcontent,  of  defire,  of  inipalience  ?  Men 
fix  their  ftandard  of  felicity  too  high  ;  and   all  they 
have  attained  goes  for  nothing,  becaufe  one  darling 
obje£b  is   ftill  out  of  reach  ;  or  they  groan  and  figh 
under  the  weight  of  fome  petty  difaiter,  which  fcarce 
deferves   the   name ;    while   ten   thoufand  fubflantial 
bleflings  are  daily   falling  on  their  heads  unnoticed, 
unacknowledged,  unenjoyed.     Compare,  O  man,  thy 
poffeffions  with  thy  privations,  compare  thy  comforts 
with  thy  deferts,  compare  thy  condition  with  thy  neigh- 
bour's, confider  how  far,  how  very  far  thy  ftate  is  on 
this  fide  worji,  and  learn  to  give  God  thanks.     Repine 
not  that  fome  wants  are  unfupplied,   that  fome  griefs 
are  endured,  that  fome  defigns  have  been  fruftrated, 
while  fo  many  unmerited  good  things  are  left,  while 
.  hope  remains,  while  there  is  recourfe  to  Heaven.     Be- 
hold thefe  two  forlorn  wanderers,  widowed,  friendlefs, 
dellitute,  and  ceafe  from  thy  complaints,  and,  ftretch 
out  thy  hand  to  fuccour  the  miferable. 

In  the  glorious  firife  of  afFedion,  Ruth  has  nobly 
prevailed.  Impelled  by  the  fond  recolledion  of  en- 
dearments paft,  and  now  no  more — prompted  by  fil- 
ial duty  and  tendernefs  to  the  mother  of  her  choice, 
attraded,  animated,  upheld  by  the  powers  and  prof- 
peds  of  religion,  flie  compofedly  yields  up  her  world- 
ly all,  takes  up  her  crofs,  and  bears  it  patiently  along 
from  Moab  to  Bethlehem-Judah.  The  hiftory  is  fi- 
lent  on  the  fubject  of  their  journey.  It  is  eafy  to 
conceive  the  anxieties,  the  terrors,  the  fatigues,  the 
fufferings  of  female  travellers,  on  a  route  of  at  leaft  a 
hundred  and  tv/enty  miles  acrofs  the  Arnon,  acrofs 
the  Jordan,  over  mountains,  through  folitudes,  with- 
out a  protector,  without  a  guide,  without  money.  But 
that  God  vvho  is  the  friend  of  the  dePdtute,  and  the 
refuge  of  the  miierable,  that  God  who  was  preparing 
for  them  infinitely  more  than  they  could  alk,  wifti  or 
think,  guides  and  guards  them  by  the  way,  and  brings 
them  at  len[^th  to  their  defired  relting  place. 

H  2'  Thefe 


ii6  Hiftory  of  Ruth.  Lect.  IX. 

Thefe  are  not  the  only  female  pilgrims  whom  the 
facred  page  has  prefented  to  our  view,  advancing 
by  llow^  and  painful  ftages  to  Bethlehem  of  Judah. 
Upwar%  of  thirteen  hundred  years  after  this  period 
we  behoJd  a  ftill  more  illuftrious  traveller,  and  in  cir- 
cumftances  ftill  more  delicate,  on  the  road  from  Naza- 
reth of  Galilee, to  her  native  city;  but  not  to  take  pofTef- 
fion  of  the  itiheritance  of  her  fathers,  not  to  repofe  in 
the  lap  of  eafe  and  indulgence,  not  to  depofit  the  anxie- 
ties of  approaching  child-birth  in  the  bofom  of  a  fond 
and  fympathizing  parent ;  but  to  know  the  heart  of  a 
ftranger,  to  feel  the  bitternefs  of  unkindnefs  and  neg- 
lect ;  fo  friendlefo  that  not  a  door  would  open  to  re- 
ceive her,  fo  poor  that  (he  cannot  purchafe  the  accom- 
modations of  an  inn,  overtaken  by  nature's  inevita- 
ble hour,  "  file  brings  forth  her  firft-born  fon  in  a  fta- 
ble,  and  lays  him  in  the  manger,  becaufe  there  was 
no  room  for  them  in  the  inn."  But  through  fuch 
humiliating  circumftanccs  of  meannefs  and  poverty, 
w^hat  a  dilplay  of  glory  and  magnificence  was  the  arm 
of  Jehovah  preparing  !  What  an  important  ftation  do 
the  limple  annals  of  thefe  poor  women  hold  in  the 
hiftory  of  mankind  i  What  celebrity,  in  the  eyes  of 
all  nations,  have  they  conferred  on  Bethlehem,  on 
their  country  !  How  a  thoufand  years  ihrink  into  a 
point,  before  that  God  who  "  fees  the  end  from  the 
beginning  !'*  How  the  purpefes  of  Heaven  are  accom- 
pliihed  to  one  iota,  to  one  tittle  !  How  places  and  times 
are  determined  of  Him  who  faith,  as  one  having  au- 
thority, "  My  counfel  fhall  ftand,  and  I  will  fulfil  all 
my  pleasure." 

One  of  the  advantages,  and  not  the  leaft,  of  travel- 
ling abroad,  is  the  joy  which  the  thought  of  returning 
home  infpires  ;  but  this  is  a  confolation  which  Naomi's 
return  is  not  permitted  to  enjoy.  She  brings  back 
no  treafures  to  purchafe  attention,  to  command  re- 
Ipect,  to  excite  envy.  She  is  accompanied  with  no 
hulband,  no  fnn,  to  maintain  her  cauie,  or  cheer  her 
iolitude.  She  brings  back  nothing  but  cmptinefs,  de- 
reliction 


J^- 


tkcT.  IX.  Kijtory  of  Ruth.  117 

religion  and  tears.  A  great  part  of  her  ancient  ac- 
quaintance and  friends  are  gone,  as  well  as  her  own 
family.  Thofe  who  remain  hardly  know  her  again^ 
fo  much  are  her  looks  impaired  and  disfigured  with 
grief.  A  new  generation  has  arifen,  to  whom  flie  is 
an  utter  ftranger,  and  who  are  utter  ftrangers  to  her. 
But  in  a  little  city,  a  trifling  event  makes  a  great  noife. 
The  curiolity  of  the  whole  town  is  excited  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  thefe  two  infignificant  fugitives  ;  and  vari- 
ous we  may  fuppole  were  the  inquiries  fet  on  foot,  the 
conjectures  formed,  the  remarks  made,  the  cenfures 
palTed,  on  their  account.  This  is  the  never-faihng  in- 
conveniency  of  inconfiderable  places.  Where  there 
is  abundance  of  idlenefs,  abundance  of  ill-nature,  eve- 
ry man  is  a  fpy  upon  his  neighbour,  every  one  is  at 
leifure  to  attend  to  the  affairs  of  another,  becaufe  he  is 
but  half  occupied  by  his  own.  We  have  here  enough 
of  inquiry,  enough  of  wonder,  but  not  a  fmgle  word 
of  companion,  of  kindnefs,  of  hofpitality  ;  and  Naomi 
might  have  gone  without  a  roof  to  fhelter  her  head,  or 
a  morfel  of  bread  to  fuflain  finking  nature,  but  for  the 
induftry  and  attachment  of  her  amiable  daughter- 
in-law  ] 

Bafe,  unfeeling  world,  that  can  feaft  itfelf  on  the 
orphan's  tears  and  the  widow's  forrow !  See,  there 
they  are,  every  one  from  his  own  bufmefs,  or  rather 
his  own'  idlenefs,  to  ftare  and  talk  a  wretched  woman 
out  of  countenance  ;  the  whifper  goes  round,  the  fin- 
ger points,  the  Icandal  of  ten  years  Handing  is  revived, 
and  a  new  colouring  is  given  to  it.  Affefted  pity  and 
real  indifference  wound  the  heart  which  God  himfelf 
has  jufl  bruifed  ;  whofe  hufband  and  children  he  has 
taken  to  himfelf.  The  v/retched  mourner  feems  to 
feel  it ;  fne  burfl:s  into  an  agony  of  grief,  and  thus  vents 
the  bitternefs  of  her  foul,  "  Call  me  not  Naomi,  call 
me  Mara  :  for  the  Almighty  hath  dealt  verv  bitterly 
with  me.  I  went  out  full,  and  the  Lord  hath  brought 
me  home  again  empty  :  why  then  call  ye  me  Naomi, 
feeing  the  Lord  hath  teftified  againft  me,  and  the  Al- 
mighty 


ii8  Hijiory  of  Ruth.  Lect.  IX. 

mighty  hath  afflided  me  ?"  *  What  fimple,  but  what 
forcible  language  the  heart  fpeaks  !  She  dwells  on  the 
minute  circumilances  of  her  cale,  takes  up  her  own 
name  as  a  theme  of  woe,  changes  the  fond  appellation 
of  parental  affedion,  of  parental  hope,  Naomi,  on 
which  Providence  had  poured  out  the  wormwood  and 
gall  of  difappointment,  into  one  better  adapted  to  her 
tragical  hirtory.  The  pafl  prefents  nothing  but  hap- 
pineis  palTed  away  as  a  (hadow  ;  rank,  and  opulence, 
and  importance  gone,  gone,  never  to  return.  The 
future  fpreads  a  gloom  unirradiated  by  a  fmgle  gleam 
of  hope.  She  apprehends  no  change  of  things,  but 
the  oppreflive  change  from  evil  to  worfe. 

But  yet  her  mifery  admjts  of  alleviation.  It  comes 
from  God,  fhe  fees  the  hand  of  a  Father  in  her  afflic- 
tion, fhe  kilfes  the  rod, and  commands  thefouHo  peace. 
To  endure  diftrefs  the  fruit  of  our  own  folly,  to  fuffer 
from  the  pride,  cruelty  and  carelefsnefs  of  a  man  like 
ourfelves,  is  grievous,  is  unfupportable,  it  drinks  up 
our  fpirits.  But  the  evil  that  comes  immediately  from 
God  has  its  own  antidote  blended  into  its  fubllance  ; 
we  drink  the  poifon  and  the  medicine  from  the  fame 
chalice,  and  at  the  fame  inllant ;  the  one  deftroys  the 
effect  of  the  other  ;  their  joint  operation  is  falutary, 
is  life-giving,  not  deadly.  Was  that  the  voice  of  God 
which  I  heard  ?  Spake  it  not  in  thunder  ?  Said  it  not, 
"  Take  now  thy  fon,  thine  only  fon,  Ifaac,  whom 
ihou  loveft,  and  offer  him  for  a  burnt-offering."  It 
is  well ;  it  was  the  voice  of  God,  and  that  is  enough. 
I  will  offer  up  the  facrifice,  I  will  furrender  my  dear- 
eft  delight,  I  cannot  tell  how  the  promife  is  to  be  ac- 
complifhed,  confiflently  with  my  obedience  and  fub- 
miflion,  but  the  command  and  the  promife  proceed 
from  the  fame  lips  ;  I  leave  all  to  him. 

From  all  that  we  fee,  Naomi  had  flender  motives, 
and  poor  encouragement,  to  return  to  her  own  coun- 
try ;  we  cannot  tell  what  determined  her  refolution ; 
it  might  be  a  little  fit  of  female  impatience,  occafioned 

by 

*  VeiTe  20,  21. 


Lect.  IX.  Hijiory  of  Ruth,  119 

by  fome  piece  of  Moabitifh  infolence  or  unkindnefs  ; 
it  miLiht  be  the  mere  reftlefsnefs  of  a  mind  ill  at  eafe, 
grafping  at  the  fhadow  of  felicity  merely  from  change 
of  pla^e  ;  it  might  be  the  ardent  defire  of  home, 
of  the  fcenes  of  childifh  fimplicity,  innocence  and 
joy,  which  in  certain  circumllances  all  men  feel,  and 
by  which  the  conduct  of  all  is,  to  a  certain  degree, 
regulated.  Whatever  it  were  it  came  from  above,  it 
was  over- ruled  of  infinite  wifdom,  it  was,  unknown 
to  itfelf,  afting  in  fubferviency  to  a  mod  important 
event :  and  it  is  thus,  that  httle,  unnoticed,  unknown 
powers,  put  the  great  machine  in  motion,  produce  ef- 
feds  that  aflonilh,  and  delight,  and  blefs  mankind. 

The  fame  all-ruHng  Providence  is  confpicuous  in 
determining  the  feafon  of  Naomi's  return.  On  this 
hinged  all  the  mighty  confequences  of  Ruth's  acquaint- 
ance and  connexion  with  Boaz — the  birth  of  kings, 
the  tranfmiffion  of  empire,  the  accomplilliment  of  an- 
cient prophecy,  the  hopes  of  the  human  race.  Had 
this  apparently  unconfequentfal  journey  been  acceler- 
ated, been  retarded,  -a  month,  a  week,  a  fmgle  day, 
the  parties  might  never  have  met.  Contingent  to 
men,  it  was  forefeen,  fixt,  difpofed  and  matured  by 
Him,  "  who  is  wonderful  in  counfel,  and  excellent  in 
working." 

Every  one  obferves  and  records  the  great  incidents 
of  his  life.  But  would  you,  O  man,  have  rational 
pleafure,  blended  with  ufeful  inllrutlion,  attend  to 
little  things,  trace  matters  of  highefl  moment  up  to 
their  fource  ;  and  behold  thy  fate  ftand  quivering  on 
a  needle's  point ;  and  a  colour  given  to  thy  whole  fu- 
ture life,  thy  eternal  ftate  fixed,  by  a  reed  f]iake]i 
with  the  wind,  by  an  accidental  concurrence  which 
thou  wert  neither  feeking  nor  avoiding  \  and  rejoice  to- 
think  that  all  things  are  under  the  direction  of  uner- 
ring wifdom,  of  all-fubduing  mercy ;  are  "  working 
together  for  good." 

Does  this  teach  a  leflbn  of  levity  and  inconfidera- 
tlon  ?  Dared  thou  to  trifie  with  thy  everlafting  con- 
cerns 


I20  Hi/lory  of  Ruth,  Lect.  IX. 

cerns  becaufe  there  is  a  God  who  ruleth  and  judgeth 
in  the  earth,  who  doth  all  things  after  the  counfel  of 
his  own  will  ?  God  forbid.  Prefumptuoufly  to  lead 
the  decrees  of  Providence,  impioufly  to  refift  them,  or 
timidly  to  draw  back,  are  equally  offenfive  to  a  right- 
eous, a  holy  and  wife  God. 

We  have  feen  the  unhappy  Naomi  flripped  of  al- 
moft  every  earthly  good  ;  hulband,  children,  friends, 
means,  country,  comfort ;  it  is  the  dark  midnight 
hour  with  her.  No,  there  is  one  little  lamp  left  burn- 
ing, to  diffipate  the  gloom,  to  prevent  defpair — the  fa- 
cred  flame  of  virtuous  friendfhip.  No,  the  fun  of 
righteoufnefs  is  hafling  to  the  brightnefs  of  his  arif- 
ing.  The  name  after  all  was  propitious  and  pro- 
phetic ;  God  brings  it  about  in  his  own  way,  and  it 
is  "  wondrous  in  our  eyes." 

The  continuation  of  this  flory  will  carry  us  on  to 
the  contemplation  of  fcenes  of  rural  fimplicity,  for  the 
enjoyment  of  which,  grandeur  might  well  relinquifli 
its  pride,  and  pomp  its  vanity  and  vexation  of  fpirit, 
and  rejoice  in  the  exchange.  Let  us  meanwhile 
paufe  and  refleft  on  jthe  hiftory  of  Naomi  as  adminif- 
tering  ufeful  inflruftion. 

ifl.  As  an  admonition  never  to  defpair.  God  fre- 
quently brings  his  people  to  that  mournful  fpectacle, 
hope  cxpiiing,  that  he  may  have  the  undivided  hon- 
our of  leviving  it  again,  and  may  be  acknowledged  as 
the  one  pure  and  perennial  fountain  of  light  and  life 
and  joy.  The  condition  of  Jacob,  of  Jofeph,  of  Na- 
omi, all  preach  one  and  the  fame  doftrine ;  all  pro- 
claim that  the  time  of  man's  extremity  is  God's  oppor- 
tunity. 

2dly.  Let  us  call,  let  us  reckon  nothing  mean  or 
contemptible  which  God  employs,  or  may  be  pleafed 
to  employ,  in  his  fervice.  The  notice  of  the  King  of 
kings  impreffes  dignity  and  imporiance,  confers  true 
nobility  on  the  low-born  child,  the  beggar,  the  out- 
call,  the  Have.  On  them  all  he  has  flamped  his  own 
image  J  and  their  prefent  and  every  future  condition 

is 


Lect.  IX.  WJlory  rf  Ruth,  121 

is  the  work  of  his  providence.  "  It  is  not  ti.e  will  of 
your  Fath.^r  in  heaven  that  one  of  the:e  little  ones 
iliould  periih  :"  and  if  deilined  to  ralvaiioii,  to  what 
worldly  diftinftion  may  they  not  afpire,  may  they  not 
arrive  ?  Carefully  mark  the  progrefs  of  children  : 
ftudy  the  bent  of  their  difpohtions,  of  their  talents  : 
enjieavour  to  put  them  in  the  train  which  nature  and 
Providence  feem  to  have  pointed  out :  attend  to  what 
conftitutes  their  real  confequence  in  life,  and  leave  the 
ifTue  to  Him  who  governs  all  events. 

3dly.  Obferve  how  the  great  Ruler  of  the  uni- 
verle  contrails  and  connefts  great  things  with  fmall, 
that  he  may  humble  the  pride  of  man,  and  expofe  the 
nothingneis  of  the  glory  of  this  world.  That  forlorn 
gleaner,  and  Boaz  the  wealthy  ;  the  exile  from  Moao, 
and  the  refident  polfeifor  of  the  fertile  plains  of  Beth- 
lehem-Judah,  feem  wonderfully  remote  from  each  oth- 
er. Their  condition  is  as  oppofite  as  human  hfe  can 
well  prefent  :  but  in  the  eye  of  Heaven  they  are  al- 
ready one.  She  is  but  a  fmgle  ftep  from  being  lady 
of  the  harveil  which  flie  gleans,  "  an  help  meei'  for 
its  lord,  and  the  fovereign  miflrefs  of  thofe  iervanrs 
at  whofe  afped  flie  now  trembles,  the  meanelt  of 
whom  (lie  now  looks  up  to  as  her  fupeiior.  Child- 
lefs  and  a  widow,  her  family,  her  own  children  are 
but  three  fteps  from  a  throne — the  throne  of  Juuah 
and  Ifrael  ;  and  in  the  purpofe  of  Lhe  Eternal,  "  the 
fulnefs  of  time'*  is  haftening  to  exhibit  to  an  altoiiilh- 
ed  world,  in  the  perfon  of  this  woman's  feed,  "  that 
l^rince  of  peace,  of  the  increafe  of  whofe  government 
and  peace  there  fhall  be  no  end,  upon  the  throne  of 
David,  and  upon  his  kingdom,  to  order  it,  and  to  ef- 
tablifli  it  with  judgment  and  with  jullice,  from  hence- 
forth even  forever.  The  zeal  of  the  Lord  of  Hoils 
will  perform  this.'*  The  period  is  approaching,  men 
and  brethren,  when  bethlehem-Judah  fiiall  difplay 
greater  wonders,   contrails  more  confounding  than 

thefe. 


122  Hijiory  of  Ruth*  Lect.  IX. 

thefe.  The  time  is  at  hand,  when  another  forlorn 
damfel  of  the  fame  race,  and  her  outcaft  babe  Ihall 
appear  in  contraft:  with  all  that  is  flupendous,  ftriking, 
formidable,  venerable  in  heaven  and  earth,  lliall  rife 
above  all,  give  laws  to  all,  eclipfe  all.  Behold  that 
"  babe  lying  in  a  manger,  in  a  ftable,  becaufe  there  is 
no  room  for  him  in  the  inn,"  controlling  the  counfels 
of  Auguftus,  the  mighty  mafter  of  the  world  ;  behold 
him  drawing  princes  and  wife  men  from  the  eaft, 
with"^  treafures  of  gold,  and  frankincenfe  and  myrrh, 
to  his  feet.  Behold  the  face  of  heaven  irradiated,  en- 
riched with  a  new  ftar,  to  mark  the  way  which  led  to 
his  cradle  :  while  a  multitude  of  the  heavenly  hofl: 
announce  in  rapturous  drains  the  birth  of  the  lowly 
infant.  Behold  "  a  man  of  forrows  and  acquainted 
with  grief,"  "  of  no  reputation  ;"  "  in  the  form  of  a 
fervant ;"  "  numbered  with  tranfgreffors  ;"  "  obe- 
dient to  death,  even  the  death  of  the  crofs."  Behold 
him  "  highly  exalted  ;"  "  leading  captivity  captive  ;'* 
"  all  the  angeU  of  God  worfliipping  him ;"  inverted 
with  "  a  name  that  is  above  every  name  ;"  "  crown- 
ed with  glory  and  honour  ;"  "  coming  in  the  clouds 
of  heaven  !"  To  him  let  my  knee  bow,  and  my  tongue 
confefs.  "  His  name  fliall  endure  forever  :  his  name 
fliall  be  continued  as  long  as  the  fun :  and  men  fhall 
be  blelfed  in  him  i  all  nations  fhall  call  him  blelTed. 
Bleffed  be  the  Lord  God,  the  God  of  Ifrael,  who  only 
doth  wondrous  things.  And  blelfed  be  his  glorious 
name  forever  :  and  let  the  whole  earth  be  filled  with 
his  glory.    Amen  and  amen."* 

4thly.  In  the  adoption  of  Ruth  into  the  church  of 
God,  and  "  the  commonwealth  of  Ifrael,"  we  have 
another  dawning  ray  of  hope  arifing  upon  the  Gen- 
tile nations.  The  tide  is  beginning  imperceptibly  to 
rife  and  fwell,  which  fhall  at  lenf?th  become  an  over- 
flowing  ocean.  "  In  that  feed  fhall  all  the  nations  of 
the  earth  be  bleffed."  That  flranger  fliall  be  employ- 
ed 

•*  Ff.i!.  kxii.  17 — 19.  , 


Lect.  IX.  Hifiory  of  Ruth.  123 

ed  in  bringing  forward  the  mighty  plan  to  maturity. 
*'  Ethiopia  Ihall  ftretch  out  her  hands  to  God.** 
*'  They  fhall  come  from  the  eaft  and  from  the  weft,  and 
fhall  fit  down  with  Abraham,  Ifaac  and  Jacob,  in  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.**  Verily  God  is  no  refpecler  of 
perions. 


Hiftory 


Hiftoiy  of  Ruth. 


LECTURE       X. 


RUTH    11.   I 3. 

And  Naomi  had  a  kin/man  of  her  hiifhand^s^  a  fulgh/yman 
of  wealthy  of  the  family  of  EUmelech  ;  and  his  name 
was  Boaz.  And  Ruth  the  Moabitefs  faid  unto  Na- 
omi, Let  me  now  go  to  the  field,  and  glean  cars  of  corn 
after  him  in  whrfe  fight  If  mil  find  grace.  And  Jhe 
faid  unto  her.  Go,  my  daughter.  And  fhc  wetit,  and^ 
came,  and  gleaned  in  the  field  after  the  reapers :  and 
her  hap  was  to  light  on  a  part  of  the  field  belonging 
unto  Boaz,  who  was  of  the  kindred  of  Elimelech. 

Jr  ROVIDENCE  has  gracioufly  annexed  to  honefl 
'induflry,  both  refpedabillty  and  happinefs.  The 
pureit  and  mofl  delicious  enjoyment  that  human  hfe 
admits  of,  perhaps,  is,  when  a  man  fits  down  with 
thofe  whom  he  loves,  to  the  temperate  indulgence  of 
that  refreflunent  and  repofe  which  he  has  jufl  earned 
and  fweetened  wdth  his  labour.  The  greateil,  and 
wifefl,  and  bed  of  men,  are  ever  prefented  to  us,  as 
engaged  in  virtuous  employment  and  exertion ;  as 
deriving  health,  fubfiftence,  reputation  and  comfort 
from  the  exercife,  not  the  inactivity  of  their  bodily 
and  mental  powers  :  and  happily,  the  fcenes  in  which 
every  man  is  converfant,  feem  to  him  the  moil  inter- 
efting  of  all,  his  own  ftation  the  moil  eminent  or  ufe- 

ful, 


Lect.  X.  Hijlory  of  Ruth,  '  125 

ful,  his  own  purfuits  the  moft  important.  Hence  a 
certain  degree  of  felf-complacency,  of  felf-fatisfaction 
pervades  the  whole  ;  every  one  is  a6ling  in  his  own 
fphere  ;  while  infinite  wifdom  binds  all  together  by 
invifible  or  unnoticed  bands,  and  the  various  mem- 
bers, without  knowledge  or  defign,  co-operate  for  the 
common  benefit,  and  fulfil  the  great  defign  of 
Heaven. 

Idlenefs  is  not  more  difhonourable,  than  it  is  inimic- 
al to  real  felicity.  The  fluggard  at  once  defeats  the 
purpofe  of  his  Maker,  and  deftroys  his  own  peace  : 
and  what  was  denounced  againfl  man  as  a  puni(hment, 
*'  In  the  fweat  of  thy  face  flialt  thou  eat  bread,'*  like 
every  other  punifnment  that  comes  from  above,  is 
converted  into  a  blefling  ;  and,  as  in  every  other  cafe, 
the  great  God  is  juft  and  merciful  at  once  ;  juft,  In 
impofing  on  the  fallen  creature  the  neceiTity  of  la- 
bouring ;  merciful,  in  rendering  the  fruit  of  it  fo 
fweet. 

But  can  the  inhabitants  of  a  great,  commercial, 
polifhed  city,  find  either  amufement  or  inflruclion  in 
contemplating  the  rude  and  fimple  manners  of  ancient 
times  ;  in  hftening  to  the  hiflory  of  the  inglorious 
toils  of  the  hufoandman  ;  in  tracing  the  operations  of 
an  art,  the  very  terms  of  which  they  do  not  under- 
fland  ;  in  obferving  the  mean  employments  of  pover- 
ty and  wretchednefs  which  they  only  pity  or  defpife  ? 
"Whether  they  can  derive  amufement,  or  inftrudion, 
from  fuch  things  as  thefe,  or  not,  may  not  courtly 
pride  be  admonilhed  in  behalf  of  the  lowly,  ruflic 
Ions  of  want  and  induffry,  in  the  words  of  two  fweet 
fmging  bards  of  our  own  country. 

"  Let  not  ambition  mock  their  ufeful  toil. 
Their  homely  joys,  and  deiliny  obfcure  : 

Nor  grandeur  hear  with  a  difdainful  finile. 
The  fliort  and  fimple  annals  of  the  poor." 

Gray's  Church-yard. 

"  Nor 


126  Hiftory  of  Ruth^  Lect.  X, 

Nor  ye  who  live 


In  luxury  and  eafe,  in  pomp  and  pride, 

Think  thefe  loll  themes  unworthy  of  your  ear." 

Thomson's  Spring. 

We  have  heard  the  artlefs  tale  of  Naomi's  woe,  and 
Ruth's  attachment.  We  have  accompanied  the  de- 
ferted,  widowed  mother  and  daughter-in-law  from 
Moab  to  Bethlehem-Judah,  the  city  of  their  departed 
hufbands  :  -but  alas,  all  the  reception  they  meet  with, 
is  llupid  wonder,  filly  curiofity,  or  infulting  pity. 
We  hear  of  no  kind  contention  to  entertain  the  ftran- 
ger  and  fuccour  the  diflreft.  The  feafon  of  reaping 
was  come  ;  but  for  them  no  golden  harveft  waved  in 
the  wind,  for  them  no  mower  was  preparing  his 
fickle  ;  their  poverty  was  but  embittered  by  the  fight 
of  plenty  diffufed  around  :  and  the  mifery  of  Naomi's 
fall  is  dreadfully  aggravated,  by  the  profperity  which 
Elimelech's  nearefl  relations  were  enjoying. 

Of  thefe  the  mod  diflinguifhed  was  Boaz,  whom 
the  facred  hiftorian  introduces  to  our  acquaintance  as 
*'  a  mighty  man  of  wealth."  Riches,  like  every  oth- 
er gift  of  God,  become  a  bleffing  or  a  curfe  juft  ac- 
cording to  the  ufe  that  is  made  of  them.  Riches  are 
a  folid  good,  when  they  are  received  with  thankful- 
nefs,  enjoyed  with  moderation,  and  employed  in  the 
fervice  of  God  and  of  mankind  ;  but  are  perverted 
into  a  fore  evil  vvhen  they  engender  pride,  and  hard- 
en the  heart,  as  is  too  generally  the  cafe,  when  they 
purchafe  fuel  for  the  lufls,  or  are  fabricated  into  a 
golden  image,  to  become  the  unworthy  objeft  of  ado- 
ration. Had  Boaz  been  merely  a  man  of  wealth,  he 
had  not  deferved  a  place  in  thefe  facred  memoirs  ; 
but  though  a  rich  man,  he  was  not  flothful  in  buli- 
nefs ;  he  was  a  man  of  humanity,  of  intelligence,  of 
difcretion,  of  affability  :  a  man  that  feared  the  Lord, 
that  did  juflly,  that  loved  mercy.  He  was  ennobled 
by  qualities  v.'hich  great  polfeiTions   cannot  confer, 

and 


Lect.  X.  Hijlory  of  Ruth.   '  iiy 

and  which  do  not,  with  fugitive  treafures,  fly  away  as 
an  eagle  towards  heaven. 

Behold  the  myfterious  diflribution  of  the  gifts  of 
Providence  !  The  family  of  one  "  brother  is  waxen 
poor  and  fallen  into  decay  ;"  that  of  the  other  is 
iliining  in  fplendour,  affluence  and  renown.  Hafty 
and  partial  views  of  the  divine  conduft,  are  always 
puzzling  and  diflrefsful  ;  calm  and  comprehenfive 
invefligation,  will  ever  lead  to  compofure  and  acqui- 
efcence. 

What  mud  thefe  helplefs  women  do  for  daily 
bread  ?  They  fit  negledted  and  forlorn  ;  but  defpond- 
ency  will  only  increafe  the  calamity.  NecefTity  fug- 
gefts  many  expedients.  While  health,  virtue  and 
friendfliip  remain,  all  is  not  loll ;  and  Heaven  fre- 
quentlv  permits  the  current  of  human  felicity  to 
fpend  itfelf  to  the  very  lowed  ebb,  that  its  own  hand 
may  be  acknowledged  in  the  means  which  caufed  the 
Hood  to  rife  and  fv/ell  again. 

The  propofal  of  Ruth  to  her  mother-in-law,  dif- 
00 vers  in  every  point  of  viev\^,  a  noble  and  ingenuous 
fpirit,  and  an  excellent  heart.  She  will  do  nothing 
without  the  confent  and  advice  of  the  venerable  mat- 
ron who  was  become  father  and  mother,  country, 
friends  and  every  thing  to  her.  Begging  is  the  lad 
miferable  refuge  of  age  or  infirmity,  of  difeafe  or 
floth  ;  die  fcorns  to  think  of  recurring  to  it,  while 
die  has  youth,  health  and  drength  to  labour,  and 
while  there  v/as  a  field  of  lawful  employment.  An 
ordinary  mind  in  her  fituation  would  have  vented  it- 
felf in  unavaihng  womanidi  lamentations  ;  perhaps  in 
unkind  upbraidings  of  the  ancient  woman  as  the  caufe 
of  all  the  didrefs  which  die  endured  ;  would  have 
been  for  difpatching  Naomi  up  and  down  among  her 
wealthy  relations  and  towns-folks,  to  foiicit  protedion 
and  fubfidence.  No,  it  is  more  honourable  in  her 
eyes  to  earn  food  by  her  _  own  labour;  die  conceals 
the  anguifii  which  wrung  her  own  heart,'  for  fear  of 
adding  affliclion  to  the  afflided.     The  feafon  of  the 

vear 


I2S  Ulftor^  of  Ruth.  Lect.  X. 

year  was  fa vouriibla  ;  and  happily  the  law  of  that  God, 
whom  fliC  had  deliberately  taken  for  her  God,  had 
made  provifion  for  perfons  in  her  dellitute  condition. 

The  fame  bounty  which  poured  the  abundance  of 
autumn  into  the  lap  of  the  mighty,  had  referved  a 
pittance-  for  the  fupport  of  the  famifhed  and  friendlefs. 
How  the  mercy  of  Jehovah  burlls  upon  us  in  every 
difpenfation  and  in  every  event !  In  wifdom  he  has 
permitted  diftinftions  of  rank  and  fortune  to  take 
place  ;  in  compafTion  he  has  taken  care  to  make  pro- 
vifion for  the  wants  of  the  neceflitous.  So  that  while 
induftry  and  pity  remain,  no  one  is  reduced  to  abfo- 
lute  defpair. 

It  is  with  pleafure  we  recur  to  the  words  of  the  law, 
and  trace  that  God  who  "  careth  for  oxen,'*  much 
more  folicitous  about  the  fupport  and  confolation  of 
the  miferable  part  of  the  rational  creation.  "  And 
when  ye  reap  the  harveft  of  your  land,  thou  fhalt  not 
wholly  reap  the  corners  of  thy  field,  neither  fhalt  thou 
gather  the  gleanings  of  thy  harveft.  And  thou  fhalt 
not  glean  thy  vineyard,  neither  flialt  thou  gather  ev- 
ery grape  of  thy  vineyard ;  thou  fhalt  leave  them  for 
the  poor  and  ftranger  :  1  am  the  Lord  your  God/** 
And  again,  "  When  ye  reap  the  harveft  of  your  land, 
thou  fnalt  not  make  clean  riddance  of  the  corners  of 
thy  field  when  thou  reapeft,  neither  flialt  thou  gather 
any  gleaning  of  thy  harveft ;  thou  flialt  leave  them 
unto  the  poor  and  to  the  ftranger  :  I  am  the  Lord 
your  God."t  And  again,  in  recapitulating  the  law 
in  Deuteronomy,  "  When  thou  cutteft  down  thine 
harveft  in  thy  field,  and  haft  forgot  a  fheaf  in  the 
field,  thou  fnalt  not  go  again  to  fetch  it :  it  fhall  be 
for  the  ftranger,  for  the  fatherlefs,  and  for  the  widow  : 
that  the  Lord  thy  God  may  blefs  thee  in  the  work  of 
thine  hands.  When  thou  beateft  thine  olive-tree,  thou 
flialt  not  go  over  the  boughs  again  :  it  fliall  be  for  the 
ftran<^er,  for  the  fatherlefs,  and  for  the  widow.  When 
thou  gathereft  the  grapes  of  thy  vineyard,  thou  fhalt 

not 

*  Lev.  xix.  9,  lo.  f  Lev.  xxiii.  22. 


Lect.  X:  Hiftory  of  Ruth.  125 

not  glean  it  afterward  :  it  fhall  be  for  the  flranger,  for 
the  fatherlefs,  and  for  the  widow.  And  thou  fhalt 
remember  that  thou  waft  a  bond-man  in  the  land 
of  Egypt  :  therefore  I  command  thee  to  do  this 
thing."* 

In  this  law,  feveral  remarkable  circumftances,  tend- 
ing to  illuftrate  the  law  of  nature  in  general,  and  the 
fpirit  of  the  Mofaic  difpenfation  in  particular,  prefs 
themfelves  upon  our  notice. 

ift.  The  confideration  and  recolledion  of  their 
own  and  their  fathers'  mifery  in  Egypt  are  urged  as 
the  powerful  motive  to  pity,  to  fpare  and  to  fuccour. 
"  A  Syrian  ready  to  perifh"  on  the  road  to  Padan- 
aram  "  was  my  father.'*  "  A  generation  of  ilaves  in 
Egypt  were  my  progenitors,  let  me  therefore  commif- 
erate,  and  receive,  and  cherifh,  the  forlorn  traveller  ; 
let  me  treat  my  own  captive,  bond-man,  dependant, 
with  gentlenefs,  and  humanity."  Who  gives  chari- 
ty ?  Not  unfeeling  wealth,  nor  giddy  diiTipation  ;  but 
the  "man  who  has  known  want,  who  once  ftood  in 
need  of  a  friend,  who  has  been  himfelf  fuccoured  in 
the  hour  of  calamity.  Who  is  it  that  relents  and  for- 
gives ?  Not  cold-blooded,  meritlefs,  conftitutional  vir- 
tue ;  but  reftored,  recovered  frailty  ;  goodnefs  which 
arofe  the  purer  and  the  ftronger  from  having  fallen. 
Who  is  liberal  and  generous  ?  Not  the  nobly  born, 
the  unvaryingly  profperous,  but  magnanimity  nurfed 
on  the  breaft  of  adverfity ;  the  prince  whom  native 
worth,  whom  confcious  dignity,  whom  the  experience 
of  human  woe  have  taught  to  devife  liberal  things,  to 
do  good,  and  to  communicate.  But  is  hereditary 
greltnefs,  unvarying  opulence,  unhumbled,  unmorti- 
fted  fuccefs,  always  cold,  felfifh,  unfeeling  ?  God  for- 
bid. High  birth,  lineal  honours,  the  accumulating 
wealth  of  many  generations,  fometimes  put  on  their 
moft  beautiful  garments,  borrow  luftre  from  conde- 
fcenfion,  fympathy  and  beneficence.  Is  fuccefsful  a*d- 
verfity,  illuminated  obfcurity,  aggrandized  littlenefs. 
Vol.  VI.  I  always 

*  Deut.  xxiv.  1 9 — 22. 


J3«  Hijiory  of  Ruth,  Lect.  X, 

always  merciful,  condefcending,  generous,  and  hu- 
mane ?  O,  no  :  the  poor  wretch  frequently  forgets 
himfelf ;  condemns  the  arts  by  which  hearofe,  fpurns 
the  ladder  on  which  he  climbed  to  eminence  and  dif- 
tindion,  and  tries  to  make  his  upftart  greatnefs  bear 
a  mimic  refemblance  to  antique  dignity,  by  aping 
the  viler,  not  the  nobler  qualities  of  traditional  im- 
portance. 

Again,  2dly.  Obferve,  the  law  inculcates  pity  to 
the  poor  and  wretched  by  the  mofl  glorious  of  all  ex- 
amples. "  I  am  the  Lord,  who  had  compaflion  upon 
you  in  your  mifery,  who  delivered  you  from  the  fur- 
nace, who  drove  out  the  nations  from  before  you,  who 
planted  you  in  the  land,  who  fill  thy  garner,  and  make 
thy  wine-prefs  to  overflow  ;  and  who  only  afk,  in  re- 
turn, a  mite  or  two,  for  the  fons  and  daughters  of  af- 
fiidion,  thefe  few  ears  which  thy  hafte  has  let  fall  to 
the  ground,  that  iheaf  which  has  accidentally  dropped 
from  thy  car  ;  that  little  corner  of  thy  field  which  the 
fickle  has  fpared,  and  which  that  flarving  creature,  by 
nature  thy  equal,  by  providence  thy  inferior,  is  wait- 
ing to  pick  up  and  devour.  He  is  an  obje£l  of  tender- 
nefs  and  affection  to  me,  fee  therefore  that  thou  neg- 
led  him  not,  that  thou  defraud  him  not,  that  thou 
diflrefs  him  not.'* 

3dly.  The  law  plainly  fuppofes  that  there  may  be 
an  over  anxiety  and  folicitude  about  things  in  their  own 
nature  lawful  and  innocent  ;  which  it  therefore  aims 
at  repreffing  :  it  fuppofes  that  there  may  be  an  eager- 
nefs  of  accumulation  which  defeats  itfelf,  a  fcattering 
abroad  that  produces  increafe,  a  withholding  of  more 
than  is  meet,  and  it  tendeth  only  to  poverty  ;  that  dif- 
fufing,  not  hoarding  up  abundance,  is  the  proper  ufc 
of  it. 

4thly.  The  lav/  had  a  double  objeft  in  view,  the 
improvement  of  the  affluent,  and  the  relief  of  the  poor. 
It  thus  became  a  mutual  benefit,  the  one  was  bleffed 
in  giving,  the  other  in  receiving.  The  greater  bleif- 
ednefs  however  on  the  fide  of  the  giver,  as  the  blelT- 

ednefs 


JLicT.  A.  Biflory  of  Ruth*  131 

ednefs  of  the  Creator  is  fuperior  to  that  of  the  crea- 
ture. It  is  as  much  an  ordination  of  Providence,  that 
^'  the  poor  fhould  never  ceafe  out  of  the  land,*'  as  that 
"  the  earth  fliould  yield  her  increafe,"  and  the  fpheres 
perform  their  flated  revolutions  :  and  while  they  do 
exill,  the  great  Lord  and  Preferver  of  all  things,  is 
concerned  to  make  fuitable  provifion  for  them.  The 
rich  are  bis  fte wards,  and  their  florekeepers  :  he  that 
gleans  his  own  field  to  the  laft  ear,  is  a  thief  and  a 
robber  as  much  as  he  who  plunders  his  neighbour's 
granary  ;  he  robs  God,  he  plunders  the  needy  and 
the  deltitute,  he  does  what  he  can  to  fubvert  the  divine 
government,  he  would  make  the  law  of  charity  and 
mercy  of  none  efFeO:,  he  bars  his  own  plea  for  pardon 
at  a  throne  of  grace,  he  mars  the  poiTeffion  of  all  he 
has,  he  cankers  his  own  enjoyment,  and  affixes  his 
feal  to  his  own  condemnation. 

5thly.  The  law  particularly  defcribes  the  objects 
which  it  meant  to  relieve,  "  the  ftranger,  the  father- 
lefs,  and  the  widow."  Unhappy  Ruth  !  her  title  to 
the  wretched  offal  from  the  hand  of  the  reaper  was 
but  too  well  eflablifhed.  She  united  in  her  own  per- 
fon  all  thefe  characters  of  woe.  Her  melancholy  claim 
to  pity  and  fupport  was  fearfully  multiplied,  and  a 
three-fold  burden  preffes  her  down  to  the  ground : 
neverthelefs  Ihe  entreats,  as  a  boon,  what  fhe  might 
have  demanded,  and  taken,  as  a  right. 

Her  truft  in,  and  fubmiffion  to  the  diredion  of 
Providence  fweetly  accord  with  her  filial  affedion  and 
tendernefs,  and  her  noble  independency  of  fpirit ;  fhe 
is  determined  to  labour,  fhe  difdains  not  to  employ  the 
neceffary  means  for  fupplying  herfelf  and  aged  parent 
with  food,  bur  (he  leaves  the  direction  of  her  footfteps 
to  High  Heaven  ;  fhe  is  in  the  way  of  her  duty,  and 
depofits  all  anxiety  about  the  iffue  in  the  bofom  of  her 
heavenly  Father.  What  a  happy  mixture  of  forti- 
tude and  refignation  !  It  cannot  but  profper. 

Having  obtained  the  confent  of  her  mother,  who 

perhaps  might  have  a  prefentiment  of  what  was  ap- 

I  2  proaching. 


132  Hijiory  of  Ruth.  Lect.  jti- 

proaching,  behold  her  up  with  the  dawn,  penfive, 
timorous  ar.d  flow,  advancing  to  the  fields ;  the 
country  all  before  her,  where  to  choofe  her  place  of 
toil,  and  Providence  her  guide  ;  with  the  downcaft 
look  of  ingenuous  modefly  ;  the  timidity  which  four 
misfortune  infpires  ;  the  firm  flep  of  confcious  recti- 
tude, and  the  flufhed  cheek  of  kindling  hope.  By 
fome  namelefs,  unaccountable  circumftance,  Heaven- 
direded,  Ihe  unknowingly  bends  her  courfe  to  the 
field  and  reapers  of  Boaz.  She  has  done  her  part, 
has  made  the  facrifices  which  confcience  and  affedion 
demanded,  has  fubmitted  cheerfully  to  the  hardfhips 
which  neceffity  impofed,  has  put  herfelf  in  the  way  of 
relief  which  her  fituation  pointed  out.  God  is  good, 
and  takes  all  the  reft  upon  himfelf.  He,  who  ordered 
her  flight  to  Canaan  at  the  time  of  barley-harveft,when 
nature,  and  Providence,  .and  the  law  concurred  to 
find  her  fubfiftence,  orders  her  path  to  that  field,  where 
every  thing,  without  the  knowledge  of  the  parties  con- 
cerned, was  prepared  and  arranged  for  the  high  fcenes 
now  ready  to  be  aded. 

The  order  of  human  procedure  generally  is  from 
blaze  to  fmoke,  from  noife  and  buftle  to  nothing, 
from  mighty  preparation,  to  feeblenefs  of  execution. 
The  divine  condud:,  on  the  contrary,  is  a  glorious  rife 
from  obfcurity  into  light,  from  "  fmall  beginnings 
to  a  latter  end  greatly  increafed  ;"  from  "  the  mouth 
of  babes  and  fucklings  he  ordaineth  ftrength,'*  and 
by  a  concurrence  of  circumftances  which  no  human 
fagacity  could  forefee,  and  no  human  power  could  ei- 
ther bring  together  or  keep  afunder,  raifes  a  negleded 
gleaner  in  the  field  into  the  lady  of  the  domain,  and 
a  fugitive  of  Moab  into  a  mother  in  Ifrael ;  a  mother 
of  kings,  whofe  name  fliall  never  expire  but  with  the 
diifolution  of  nature. 

At  this  period  of  the  ftory,  let  us  paufe,  and  med- 
itate 

— On  the  power  which  regulates  and  controls  ^11 
the  aifairs  of  men,  who  has  all  hearts,  all  events  in 

his 


Lect.  X.  Hl/iory  of  Ruth.  133 

his  hand,  who  "  poureth  contempt  upon  princes,  and 
bringeth  to  nought  the  v/ifdom  of  the  prudent  ;" 
who  "  raifeth  up  the  poor  out  of  the  duft,  and  lifteth 
up  the  needy  out  of  the  dunghill,  that  he  may  fet 
him  with  princes,  even  with  the  princes  of  his  peo- 
ple ;  he  maketh  the  barren  woman  to  keep  houfe, 
and  to  be  a  joyful  mother  of  children.'*  Is  there  a 
God  who  "  doth  according  to  his  will  in  the  ar- 
mies of  heaven,  and  among  the  inhabitants  of  the 
earth  ?"  then  let  me  never  "  be  high-minded,  but 
fear'*  always  before  him,  for  I  am  never  out  of  his 
reach,  never  concealed  from  his  eye,  never  flieltered 
from  his  juftice.  Is  there  a  God  who  judgeth  in  the 
.earth,  in  whom  the  fatherlefs  lindeth  mercy,  to  whom 
the  miferable  never  look,  never  cry  in  vain  ?  then 
let  me  never  fmk  into  defpair.  I  am  not  too  humble 
for  his  notice,  my  difeafe  is  not  beyond  his  (kill  to 
-  cure,  my  wants  are  not  too  numerous  for  his  fupplies, 
nor  my  tranfgreffions  beyond  the  multitude  of  his 
tender  mercies.  Doth  not  He  deck  the  hly,  and  feed 
the  raven  ?  a  fparrow  rifeth  not  on  the  wing,  falleth 
not  to  the  ground,  without  my  heavenly  Father. 
"  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped,*'  and  "  his  hand  is 
not  fljortened,  nor  his  ear  heavy,  nor  his  bowels  of 
compaffion  reflrained.'* 

Meditate  again,  on  what  ground  you  have  encour- 
agement to  afk  and  to  expeft  the  divine  protedion 
and  favour.  Have  you  given  up  all  for  God  ?  Have 
you  good  hope  through  grace  that  you  are  reconciled  to 
God  through  the  blood  of  his  Son  ?  Have  you  a  good 
confcience  toward  God  that  you  are  in  the  proper  ufe 
of  appointed  means  ?  Can  you  look  up  with  confidence 
and  fay,  "  Lord,  thou  knowefl  all  things,  thou  knowefl 
I  have  not  folded  my  hands  to  fleep,  have  not  fat  down 
in  luUen  difcontent,  have  not  charged  thee  foolifhly, 
have  not  fled  to  unjuftifiable  methods  of  relief.  I  have 
not  impioufly  flriven  with  my  Maker,  nor  prefumptu- 
oufly  expeded  a  miracle  to  be  wrought  in  my  behalf. 
I  have  in  much  weaknefs,  but  in  trembling  hope,  en- 
deavoured 


134  Hijfory  of  Ruth.  LlcT.-  X; 

deavoured  to  do  my  duty  ;  and  I  now.  Lord,  cafl:  all 
my  care,  call  my  burden  upon  thee."  Look  into  the': 
hiftory  of  divine  interpofitions.  Were  they  in  com- 
pliment to  the-  peevilh  and  capricious,  were  they  ex- 
torted by  the  loud  lamentations  or  the  fecret  murmur- 
jngs  of  infolence  and  ingratitude  ?  were  they  the  pil- 
lows fmoothed  by  the  hand  of  weak  indulgence  for  the 
drowfy  head  of  floth  and  indifference  to  repofe  on  ?- 
No,  but  they  were  the  feafonable  cordial  of  parental' 
affe£lion  to  a  fainting  child  ;  the  reward  which  wifdom 
and  goodnefs  beftow  on  diligence  and  perfeverance  ; 
the  indilToluble  union  which  God  has  eftablilhed  be- 
tween human  exertion  and  divine  co-operation  ;  they 
were  the  recompenfe  of  labour  and  vigilance,  the  an- 
fwer  of  prayer. 

Meditate  yet  again,  on  the  true  dignity  of  human 
nature,  on  the  true  glory  of  man  and  of  woman  alfo  ;— 
honeft,  ufeful  employment.  It  is  not  idle,  luxurious 
enjoyment,  it  is  not  to  do  nothing,  to  be  eternally 
waited  upon,  and  miniftered  unto,  to  grow  torpid  by 
inadtion,  to  {lumber  away  life  in  a  lethargic  dream,  and 
to  lofe  the  powers  of  the  foul  and  body  by  difufe  ;  but 
to  preferve  and  promote  health  by  moderate  exercife, 
to  earn  cheerfulnefs  and  felf-approbation,  by  the  fweet 
confcioufnefs  that  you  are  not  living  wholly  in  vain, 
and  to  rife  into  importance  by  being  fomewhat  ufeful 
to  your  fellow-creatures.  In  the  eye  of  fober,  unbiaf- 
fed  reafon,  whether  of  the  two  is  the  more  pleafmg, 
the  more  refpeftable  fight ;  and  which  is,  in  her  own 
mind,  the  happier  of  the  two,  Ruth  laden  with  the 
cars  of  corn  which  (he  has  toiled  to  gather,  haftening 
home  to  the  hut  of  obfcurity,  to  adminifter  food  and 
comfort  to  old  age  and  forrow  ;  or  a  modern  belle,  if- 
fuing  forth  under  a  load  of  uneafy  finery,  to  imaginary 
triumphs,  and  certain  difappointment  ?  Who  fleeps 
foundeft  at  night,  and  who  awakes  and  arifes  in  the 
beft  health  and  fpirits  next  day  ?  I  expeft  not  an 
anfwer. 

The 


Lect.  Xi'  Hijlory  of  Ruth,  135 

The  thing  fpeaks  for  itfelf ;  and  I  have  purpofely 
forborne  to  (late  the  cafe  fo  ftrongly  as  I  might  have 
done.  The  virtuous  danifel  has,  in  part,  received  her 
reward,  but  a  greater  and  better  is  preparing  for  her. 
The  mother  and  daughter  have  been  arranging  their 
little  matters  with  difcretion ;  and  the  great  God  has 
been  preparing  his  agents,  putting  his  armies  in 
motion ;  all  is  mad<i  ready,  is  made  to  meet,  is  made 
to  work  together,  is  made  to  profper,  by  Him  who  fees 
the  perfect  man  in  the  embryo,  the  end  from  the  be- 
ginning, the  effed;  in  its  primary  caufe,  the  eternal 
chain  in  every  feries,  and  in  all  its  extent. 


HiftoFy 


Hiftory  of  Ruth, 


LECTURE      XI. 

RUTH   ii,    4. 

And  behold y  Boaz  came  from  Beth-lehem,  and /aid  wito 
the  reapers.  The  Lord  be  with  you  :  and  they  anfwered 
him.  The  Lord  blefs  thee. 

J-  HE  fhort  and  fimple  fentence  which  I  have  read, 
might  be  made  the  fubjedt  of  a  volume.  I  intend  to 
make  it  at  leaft  the  fubjed  of  a  Ledure,  and  entreat 
your  patient  attention  to  a  few  of  the  obvious,  but 
neither  uninterefting  nor  unimportant  views  which 
it  exhibits,  of  life  and  rnanners,  of  morals  and  re- 
ligion. 

Men  of  different  charadlers,  from  various  motives, 
and  for  various  purpofes,  might  be  fuppofed  to  af- 
fume  the  plain,  unadorned  hiftory  of  the  barley-har- 
veft  of  Boaz,  as  an  ufeful  and  inflruftive  topic  of  ad- 
drefs,  and,  according  to  the  fpirit  by  which  they  were 
a£luated,  and  the  end  which  they  had  in  view,  might 
reafon  upon  it  in  this  manner. 

I.  The  prudent,  careful  man,  would  build  upon  it 
a  fyftem  of  attention,  diligence  and  economy.  "  Be- 
hold,*' would  he  fay,  "  behold  Boaz,  the  wealthy  and 
the  wife,  in  his  field,  among  his  fervants,  feeing  eve- 
ry thing  with  his  own  eyes,  giving  his  orders  in  per- 
fon,  taking  care  that  every  one  be  in  his  own  place, 
and   performing  his  particular  duty.     The  air  and 

exercife 


Lect.  XI.  Hijidrj  of  Ruth.  l^j 

exercife  conneQ:ed  with  the  operations  of  hufbandry, 
are  conducive  to  health,  to  comfort ;  they  promote 
jiiis  intereft ;  they  enhven  his  fpirits ;  moderate  la- 
bour makes  reft  welcome.  See,  his  prefence  is  a 
check  upon  idlenefs,  upon  carelefsnefs,  upon  difcord ; 
it  calls  forth  induflry,  it  creates  honeit  emulation  ; 
it  reconciles  the  peafant  to  his  toil,  to  fee  the  mafter 
participating  in  it.  He  has  brought  himfelf  down  to 
the  level  of  the  poor  labourer,  who  feems  to  have 
rifen  in  proportion.  See,  nothing  efcapes .  his  notice, 
not  even  a  wretched  gleaner  behind  the  reapers  ;  he 
mufl  be  informed  of  every  thing  ;  to  the  minuted  cir- 
cumftance  he  will  judge  for  himfelf. 

"  Young  man,  fet  out  in  life,  and  conduct  your 
•progrefs,  on  fuch  a  principle,  on  fuch  a  model  as  this. 
It  is  the  certain  road  to  affluence,  to  refpedability  : 
you  are  thereby  at  once  ferving  yourfelf,  your  depend* 
ants,  and  your  country.  Whatever  be  thy  flation, 
whatever  thy  employment,  let  thy  heart  be  in  it ;  let 
thy  time  and  thy  attention  be  devoted  to  it.  "  Be 
thou  diligent  to  know  thejtate  of  thy  flocks^  and  look  well  to 
thy  herds. '^  "  Be  notjlothful  in  bufinefs.  Let  every  thing 
b£  done  in  its  feafon ;  let  every  thing  be  done  decently 
and  in  order."  "  The  hand  of  the  diligent  niakcthrich.''* 
"  Seefi  thou  a  man  diligent  in  his  bufinefs  ?  He  fmll Jiand 
before  kings  ;  he  Jhall  not  Jiand  before  mean  men'* 

"To  thefe  might  be  added  innumerable  admonitions 
and  arguments,  drawn  from  fcripture,  from  reafon, 
from  hiftory,  from  experience,  all  tending  to  demon- 
ftrate  the  wifdom,  the  utility,  the  neceffity  of  doing 
what  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  with  thy  might ;  and 
to  prove  the  folly,  the  danger,  the  mifery  of  iloth 
and  inattention.  But  example  is  beyond  all  pre- 
cept. Survey  yonder  field  ;  from  Ruth  up  to  Bo- 
az  ;  all  are  bufy,  all  are  pisafed  and  cheerful^  all 
are  happy.  Be  inftructed,  m.y  fon,  by  the  profpecl  ; 
and  learn  that  God,  and  nature,  and  reafon,  have  in- 
feparably  conneded  induflry  and  felicity  ;  have  made 
bpdily  health  and  inward  peace,  profperity  and  import- 
ance 


i'38  Hi/fory  of  Ruth,  Lect.  XL 

ance  to  flow  from  virtuous,  temperate  exertion,  as  the 
flream  from  its  fource.** 

II.  The  moraljft  would  take  up  the  fubjeft  in  a 
point  of  view  fomewhat  different.  "  Obferve'*  would 
he  fay  "  the  reciprocal  duties  arifmg  out  of  the  mutu- 
al relations  of  human  life.  We  have  them  here 
beautifully  exemplified  in  the  relation  of  maftef 
and  fervant.  Befides  the  more  obvious  obligations 
of  juftice,  on  the  one,  in  faithfully  performing  the 
ftipulated  labour  ;  on  the  other,  in  punctually  be- 
ifowing  the  promifed  wages  of  the  hireling,  be- 
hold the  tacit  obligations  of  mutual  affedion  and 
benevolence.  Obligations  founded  not  indeed  upon 
a  written  law,  but  interwoven  with  the  conftitution 
and  frame  of  our  nature,  and  which  the  man  who 
feels  not,  acknowledges  not,  the  man  who  negleds 
or  violates,  let  his  adherence  to  the  letter  of  the 
law  be  ever  fo  clofe  and  exad,  is  a  traitor  to  God 
and  fociety.  Nay,  he  is  a  traitor  to  himfelf,  by  cut- 
ting off  one  of  the  pureft  fources  of  his  own  enjoyment, 
and  at  the  fame  time  depriving  mankind  of  one  of 
their  juflefl  claims. 

"  Boaz  and  his  reapers  meet  with  mutual  cordiality. 
They  give  and  receive  the  lalutation  of  peace.  He  ac- 
cofls  them  as  a  father  would  his  children,  not  as  a- 
tafk-mafter  would  the  miferable  drudges  fubjefted  to 
his  authority.  They  addrefs  him  with  the  kindly  and 
huihble  familiarity  of  fons,  not  the  diflant  timidity  of 
flaves  trembling  for  fear  of  the  rod.  They  exadl  the 
price  of  their  fervice  as  a  debt ;  but  they  receive  the 
gentle  language  and  fmiles  of  their  employer  as  a  fa- 
vour. He  expefts  them  to  be  honeft  and  dihgent,  for 
confcience  fake;  but  contentment  with  their  condi-. 
tion,  and  good-will  to  him,  he  thankfully  receives,  as 
an  unconditioned,  extraordinary  effort  to  promote  his 
intereft. 

"  Suppofe,  for  a  moment,  the  temper  and  character 
of  both  changed  ;  and  the  force  of  the  example  will . 
be  more  clearly  underftood,  and  more  powerfully  felt. 

Without 


LSCXsriK.!  Hijiory  of  Ruth.  r^^ 

Without  fuppofing  any  one  precept  of  morality,  or 
ditlate  of  religion  infringed,  what  a  different  afpe6t 
•^ould  the  field  of  Boaz  wear  !  Lo,  where  comes  the 
fyrly,  jlately,  felf-important  lord  of  the  manor,  furvey- 
ing  in  the  pride  of  his  heart,  his  increafing  (lore,  look- 
ing down  on  the  humble,  hardy  Ions  of  toil,  as  mere 
bealls  of  burden,  defigned  to  miniiler  to  his  conveni- 
ency.  He  vouchfafes  them  never  a  r.  ord,  except  per- 
haps to  complain,  to  threaten,  or  to  upbraid :  and 
then,  in  fullen  filence  and  flate,  retires  again.  The 
infulted  labourers  on  the  other  hand,  regard  him  with 
terror  or  difguft.  The  focial  compatl  is  diffolved  be- 
tween them.  No  eye  welcomed  his  approach  with  a 
fmile,  no  whifper  of  gratulation  conveyed  his  name 
from  ear  to  ear,  no  tongue  pronounced  "  God  blefs 
him,'*  The  half-fmothered  execration  purfued  his 
withdrawing  fteps,  and  he  well  deferved  it. 

"  What  thinkeft  thou,  my  young  friend,  of  the  pic- 
ture ?  Learn  from  it,  that  to  doing  juflly,  there  muft 
be  added  loving  mercy,  and  walking  humbly.  Learn, 
that  the  duties  and  felicities  of  human  Hfe  confift  in. 
numberlefs,  namelefs,  undefinable  Uttle  offices,  which 
every  one  may  learn  without  a  teacher,  and  which 
every  one  may,  if  he  will,  perform.  All  have  it  not 
in  their  power  to  fupply  the  poor,  to  heal  the  fick,  to 
fuccour  the  diflreffed.  Opportunity  does  not  every 
day  offer,  nor  abihty  permit  to  confer  material,  elTen- 
tial  benefits  ;  but  it  is  in  the  power  of  all  to  exprefs 
fympathy,  to  breathe  a  kind  wilh.  Opportunities  eve- 
ry hour,  every  moment  prefent  themfeives,  and  abil- 
ity never  fails  of  looking  pleafantly,  of  fpeaking  gent- 
ly and  affectionately.  And  he  is  a  wretch  indeed  who 
^nows  that  the  unbending  of  an  eyebrow,  the  utter- 
ance of  a  fyllable  or  two,  the  alteration  of  half  a  tone 
of  his  voice,  the  fimple  extenfion  of  his  hand  would 
in  a  moment  relieve  a  heart  overwhelmed  with  forrow, 
wrung  with  anguifh,  and  yet  cruelly  withholds  fo  ilen- 
der,  fo  eafy,  fo  cheap  a  confolation. 

"  Younir 


14©  Hi/iory  of  Ruth.  Lect.  XI. 

"  Young  man,  if  it  be  thy  misfortune  to  have  to 
ftruggle  with  a  harlli,  ungainly,  unbending  difpofition, 
the  iooner  you  fet  but  in  quell  of  victory  the  better. 
Remember  that  thy  own  comfort  is  involved,  be- 
yond the  power  of  feparation,  with  that  of  thy  fellow- 
\:reatures.  Take  care  that  the  manner  of  (hewing  mer- 
er, or  of  conferring  obligation  mar  not  the  matter 
of  the  benefit.  '1  he  man  who  refufes  gracionjly,  im- 
preiTes  on  the  heart  a  more  favourable  idea  of  himielf, 
than  he  whogranls  with  harflmefs,  infolence  or  pride. 
True  goodnefs  confiders,  together  with  what  is  written 
on  tables  of  Hone,  what  is  engraven  on  the  Ihing  tables 
of  the  h€art.,  and  from  the  heart,  communicates  itfelf  to 
the  forehead,  the  eyes,  the  lips,  the  hand  ;  impreffing 
on  tlie  whole  the  laiu  of  kmdnefs.^* 

III.  The  philofopher  will  cafl  his  eyes  along  the 
group  fcattered  over  the  plains  adjoining  to  Bethlehem- 
Judah,  and  will  refleft  in  a  diiferent  manner  ;  perhaps 
thus.  "  What  an  endlefs  variety  do  I  obferve  in  the 
ways  and  works  of  the  great  Creator  and  Ruler  of 
the  univerfe  !  Blended  with  that  varietv,  what  mutual 
relation  and  dependence !  The  head,  the  hands,  the 
feet ;  the  parts  v.-hich  are  more  noble,  and  thofe  which 
are  more  diflionourable,  forming  one  regular,  harmo- 
nious body  v.'here  there  is  nothing  redundant,  noth- 
ing deficient.  Every  thing  has  its  ufe,  every  thing 
has  its  end.  Shade  imperceptibly  foftens  into  fliade  ; 
light  imperceptibly  brightens  into  light.  The  tranfi- 
tions  are  fo  f-vveet  and  gradual,  that  the  eye  is  never 
oilended,  nor  overwhelmed.  It  is  the  iimre  thing  iii 
the  body  foci.il  and  politic.  Every  one  flands  in  need 
of  another.  The  prince  and  the  peafant  meet  in  a 
certain  poiuL.  Hov^'  manv  things  have  tliev  in  com.- 
an  on  !  How  many  things  to  interefl  and  attract  each 
other ! 

"  Look  but  to  that  field.  The  perfons  are  few  ; 
and  the  conditions  much  fcv/er.  But  even  there  I  fee 
the  order,  the  fnbordination  which  Providence  has 
e'labliflicd  through  the  whole  extent  of  the  vail  uni- 
verfe, 


Lect.  XI.  Hijicry  of  Ruth.  141 

verfc.  There  walks  the  dignified,  refpeclable  propri- 
etor of  the  land,  who  can  trace  his  title  to  poireilion 
through  many  generations ;  exulting  in  hereditary 
wealth  and  honours,  without  arrogance,  vanity  or  in- 
feniibility.  Boaz,  a  prince  in  his  tribe,  but  a  plaiii 
man,  who  knows  that  he  derives  his  lubfiilence  ironi 
the  boibm  of  the  earth,  who  difdains  not  to  mingk; 
With  his  menial  fervants,  to  fit  down  to  a  participation 
of  their  homely  fare,  to  dip  his  morfel  in  the  fame  vin- 
egar, and  to  lie  down  to  fleep  all  night  in  the  threih- 
ing-fioor. 

"  There  the  fervant  who  is  fet  over  the  reapers  (lirs 
from  ridge  to  ridge,  from  company  to  company,  the 
bond  of  union  between  the  mailer  and  the  labourers. 
Behold  him  as  the  trufted  humble  friend  of  Boaz,  re- 
paying confidence  with  fidelity  ;  praifing  the  indus- 
trious, encouraging  the  faint,  chiding  the  carelefs, 
ftimuiating  the  ilow.  As  the  fympathizing  friend  ot 
his  lels  favoured  feliow-fervants,  recolledjng  how  lately 
he  emerged  from  the  fame  obfcurity  and  fubjedion,  ex- 
cufmg  the  frailty  of  nature,  covering  the  faults  of 
thoughtlefsnefs,  adminiftering  reproof  and  chaftifement 
with  lenity  and  moderation,  bellowing  commendation 
with  cheerfulnefs  and  cordiality. 

"  As  we  defcend,  a  new  ftation,  a  new  character 
rifes  into  view,  the  glory  and  the  flrength  of  every 
land  under  heaven,  the  poor,  the  honeft,  the  manly, 
the  virtuous,  the  ufeful,  the  important  part  of  th2 
community.  Not  they  who  handle  the  harp  and  thv 
organ,  but  they  who  put  their  hands  to  the  plough  and 
the  fickle.  I'here  they  toil,  there  they  fweat,  there 
they  fing  ;  there  they  beguile  the  fatigues  of  the  day 
in  innocent  mirth,  and  untutored,  artlefs,  guilelefs, 
unmalignant  converfation  ;  and  purchafe  and  fweeten. 
the  repofe  of  the  night,  with  unoppreiTive  induitry, 
with  friendly  communication,  and  pious,  unafpiring 
fubmillion  to  the  pains,  the  privations,  the  necefutieo. 
of  their  lowly  eilato. 

'^  Thefi 


14*  Hijiory  of  Ruth,  Lfi'ctllSI. 

*'  Thcfe  conftitute  the  numerous,  the  great  and 
good  clafs  of  our  fellow-creatures ;  who  fhine  in  the 
eye  of  reafon,  of  patriotlfm,  of  philofophy,  of  religion. 
They  ftand  not  forth  the  prominent  figures  in  the 
piece,  but  their  number,  their  equality,  their  want  of 
characteriflic  diftindion,  confer  upon  them  the  great- 
er value. 

*'  But  ah,  there  is  beneath  them,  a  fubordinate  rank, 
which  awakens  all  that  is  human  in  us.  They  have 
health  and  ftrength  and  will  to  labour ;  their  reward 
is  fure  ;  they  fupport  the  heat  and  toil  of  the  day, 
with  the  fweet  aflurance  that  the  thickening  fliades, 
that  the  twelfth  hour  will  bring  with  them,  the  pay- 
ment of  their  hire,  the  means  of  fubfiftence,  of  domes- 
tic joy,  of  regulated  gratification.  But  look  into  the 
back-ground  of  the  piece,  and  obferve  that  female,  that 
flranger,  that  orphan,  and  her  a  widow  ;  to  work  un- 
able, to  beg  aihamed.  She  has  feen  better  days. 
Time  was,  the  wind  of  heaven  was  not  permitted  to  vif- 
it  her  face  too  roughly  ;  (he  was  waited  upon,  and  min» 
iftered  unto  ;  now  fhe  is  become  the  fcorn  of  clowns  ; 
or  lower  Jtill,  their  pity.  Where  is  the  lownefs  of  con*- 
dition,  from  whence  it  is  not  poflible  ftill  to  fall !  Be 
what  thou  wilt,  O  man,  there  are  fome  looking  up  to 
thee  with  envy  and  defire :  be  what  thou  wilt,  there 
is  ftill  caufe  to  fay,  "  God,  I  thank  thee  I  am  not  as 
other  men.''* 

"  But  obferve,  my  young  friend,"  continues  our 
philofophical  monitor,  "  all  thefe  gradations,  and  infi- 
nitely more  than  can  be  pointed  out,  are  Hnks  in  the 
great  chain  of  human  exiftence  ;  tear  one  afunder, 
and  the  concuffion  is  felt  through  the  whole.  The 
gleaner,  the  reaper,  the  overfeer,  the  mafler  of  the 
houfehold  are  fo  many  fucceflive  fleps  in  the  fame 
fcale ;  the  mofl  diftant  not  very  remote ;  the  nearer 
hardly  diflinguifhable  ;  all  are  reduced  to  the  fame  lev- 
el before  Him,  who  fays  to  Gabriel,  Go,  and  he  goeth, 
and  to  the  fparrow  hovering  on  the  wing.  Fall  to  the 
ground,  and  inftantly  he  drops.  And  again,  young  man 

void 


LjfcCT^JXJ.  Hiftory  (f  Ruik  145 

void  of  underflanding,  obferve,  and  obfervc  it  well,  and 
lay  it  up  in  thine  heart,  how  near  the  extremes  of  hu- 
man condition  are  to  one  another  !  the  gleaner  after  the 
reapers,  is  but  a  ftep  or  two  from  the  pofleffion  of  the 
whole.  Wait  but  a  few  days,  and  fhe  who  is  liable  to 
be  infulted,  at  befl  pitied,  (hall  be,  in  her  turn,  caref- 
fed,  flattered,  fubmitted  to  :  and  learn,  from  the  whole, 
the  folly  of  being  infoient,  felf-conceited,  or  unkind, 
unfocial  or  uncomplying,  when  the  fun  of  profperity 
fhineth  upon  thy  tabernacle  ;  or  of  being  diicontcnted, 
dejefted,  careleis  or  mean,  when  the  common  ill  >  of 
humanity  overtake  thee.  That  poor  inflated  creature, 
who  like  another  Nebuchadnezzar  talks  in  loud  fwell- 
ing  words  of  vanity,  of  the  great  Babylon  which  he  has 
built,  I  once  knev/  a  cringing  minion,  ready  to  lick  the 
dull  from  the  feet  of  the  man  whom  he  now  ftruts  by 
as  if  he  were  a  ftranger.  That  poor  boy  whom  he  dif- 
dains  to  fet  with  ihe  dogs  of  his  flock,  is  evidently  ri- 
fing  into  confequence,  which  is  one  day  to  eclipfe  all 
the  tawdry  honours  of  upftart  gentility,  and  felf-afiuni'- 
ed  importance.  My  fon,  derive  thy  greatnefs  from 
thyfelf,  from  wifdom,  from  virtue.  Take  care  to 
adorn  thy  flation,  thy  poflTeffions,  by  native  goodnefs. 
Pitiable  indeed  is  thy  condition,  if  rank,  or  afPiuence, 
or  even  talents,  ferve  only  to  render  thy  folly  or  profli- 
gacy more  confpicuous.*' 

IV.  Once  more,  let  me  fuppofe  a  man  of  genuine 
piety  contemplating  the  interefl:ing  fcene  before  us, 
and  entering  with  wonder  and  delight  into  the  plans 
of  the  Eternal  Mind.  His  meditations  will  flow  in  ftiil 
a  diff'erent  channel,  he  will  view  the  fame  cbjed 
through  (till  a  different  medium.  *'  Behold,"  will  he 
fay,  "  how  fweet  is  thef?nell  of  a  field  which  "Jehcvah 
hath  blejfed!  happy  Boaz,  rich  in  lands  and  in  corn, 
rich  in  man-fervants  and  maid-fervants,  rich  in  the  du- 
tiful and  affedionate  attachment  of  thy  people,  rich  in 
thine  own  integrity  and  compofure  of  Ipirit :  but  rich- 
er far  in  the  favour  and  approbation  of  the  Almighty  : 
the  blejjing  of  the  Lord  it  niaketh  rich;,  and  he  addeih  no 

J'^rrcu' 


144  Hl/lory  of  Ruth.  Lect.  XI. 

forrow  ihereiviihi  Happy  family,  thus  dwelling  to 
gether  in  unity  ;  where  love  is  the  governing  princi- 
ple, where  the  fear  of  God  fweetly  expreffes  itlclf  in 
unfeigned  benevolence  to  man  !  How  can  that  houfe 
but  profper,  where  religion  has  eflabliflied  her  throne  ? 
Look  at  that  happy  plain  over  which  the  bountiful 
hand  of  nature  has  fpread  her  rich  exuberance.  The 
Lord  maketh  that  ivealth.  Behold  the  patriarchal  maf- 
ter  :  the  meanefl  flave  he  treats  like  a  child  :  hearken, 
the  voice  of  peace  and  benediction  dwells  on  his  lips, 
diftils  like  the  dew.  Behold  the  way  to  be  loved  and 
refpeded  by  inferiors.  Be  to  them  an  enfample  of  pi- 
ety, of  purity,  of  charity  ;  bind  them  to  you  with 
cords  of  love ;  fweet  and  faithful,  cheerful  and  effi- 
cient is  the  fervice  of  affection.  Thefe  men  will 
yield  obedience  not  for  ivrath  only,  but  far  confciencs 
fake ;  their  heart  is  in  their  work  5  they  need  no 
overfeer  ;  they  will  neither'be  neghgent  nor  difhon- 
efl :  they  know  that  the  eye  of  God  is  continually  up- 
on them ;  they  know  that  the  intereft  of  the  mailer 
is  their  own. 

"  How  happily  religion  adapts  its  influence  to  every 
relation  and  condition  of  life !  How  it  guards  the 
heart  alike  from  foolijh  pride  and  impiom  dfcontent,  at 
what  bounty  has  beftowed,  or  wifdom  denied  !  Hov/  it 
humanizes,  dignifies,  exalts  the  foul  i  How  it  en- 
forces, extends  and  refines  the  maxims  of  worldly  pru- 
dence !  How  it  illuftrates,  binds,  and  enlivens  the 
precepts  of  morality  !  How  it  amplifies,  expands,  reg- 
ulates, brightens  the  views  of  philofophy ;  referring 
every  thing  to  God,  deriving  all  from  him,  carrying 
all  back  to  him  again  !  O  man,  till  thou  haft  founded 
thy  domeftic  economy  in  religion,  thou  haft  not  be- 
gun to  keep  houfe.  Let  thy  pofleflions  be  ever  fo 
fair,  ever  fo  extenfive,  they  want  their  principal  charm, 
their  higheft  excellence,  till  the  blefling  of  Heaven 
be  afked  and  obtained. 

"  Mark  yet  again,  how  a  good  man^s  footfleps  are  all 
•rdcred  of  the  Lord.     In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  him^ 

and 


iiECT.  ICI.  Hijiory  of  Rttth.  14^ 

and  he  jhall  direcl  thy  paths.  Boaz  came  forth  with 
no  farther  view  than  to  fee  the  progrefs  of  his  harveft, 
to  falute  his  fervants,  and  to  cheer  their  labour  by  his 
prefence  and  approving  fmiles ;  but  lo,  Providence 
has  been  preparing  for  him  a  more  enlarged  view,  has 
enriched  his  field  with  a  nobler  portion  than  he  had 
any  apprehenfion  of.  Thy  ways^  my  King  and  my  God^ 
thy  ways  are  in  thefea,  and  thy  path  in  the  deep  waters y 
and  thy  judgments  are  unfearchable.  The  great  God  is 
working  unieen,  unnoticed.  He  is  preparing  his  in- 
ftruments  at  a  diitance,  arranging  his  agents  in  the 
dark.  Un  een  to,  unknown  by  one  another,  without 
concert  or  defign,  they  come  forth  at  the  moment, 
they  perform  the  part  afligned  them;  they  fpeak  and 
act  in  perfect  uniion,  they  accomplilh  the  purpofe  of 
the  Eternal.  Boaz  and  Ruth,  behold  them  together 
in  the  field,  remote  as  penury  and  fulnefs,  as  obfcuri- 
ty  and  celebrity,  as  dependence  and  being  depended 
upon.  Neverthelefs  they  meet,  and  Heaven  from 
above,  crowns  the  hallowed  union  with  her  olive." 

But  might  not  the  pious  fpirit  annex  a  caution  to 
his  exhortation  on  this  iubjed:.  "  Beware  of  taking 
the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God  in  vain  :  for  the  Lord  will 
not  hold  him  guiltlefs  who  taketh  his  name  i?i  vain.  Holy 
and  reverend  is  his  name.  Even  in  bleffing  it  is  to  be 
ufed  folemnly,  pioufiy,  fparingly :  who  then  (hall 
dare  to  employ  it  wantonly,  needlefsly,  profanely, 
impioufly,  blafphemoufly  ?  Who  (hall  prefume  to 
abufe  it,  in  fwearing  falfely  by  it,  or  in  imprecating  a 
curfe  under  that  dreadful  fandion  upon  the  head  of 
his  brother  ?  Avert,  merciful  Heaven,  avert  from  my 
guilty,  heavy-laden  country,  the  heavy,  the  bitter 
curfe  which  this  fin  deierves  !  O  let  not  profane 
fwearing,  let  not  wilful  deliberate  perjury,  prove 
its  ruin  !'* 

— Thus  have  I  endeavoured,  by  affuming  feveral 
fuppofed  charafters,  to  give  life  and  energy  to  the  fim- 
ple,  rural  fcene  under  conhderation.  It  furniflies 
copious  matter  of  inftrudion  to  every  teacher,  and  to 
y^-L.  VI.  K  every 


146  Hyhry  cf  Ruth,  Lect,  XL 

every  clafs  of  mankind.  The  careful,  prudent  man: 
of  the  -"vorld  ;  the  moralifl ;  the  calm  obferver ;  the 
pious  inltruclor,  are  all  here  provided  vi^ith  ufeful  top- 
ics of  addrefs  to  their  feveral  pupils,  according  to  their 
feveral  views.  The  mafter  and  the  fervant,  the  hire- 
ling and  his  employer,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  here 
meet  together,  and  are  together  informed,  by  more 
than  a  code  of  laws,  by  plain  but  ftriking  example,  of 
tlieir  mutual  relation  and  dependence,  and  of  the  du- 
ties which  arife  out  of  them,  and  of  the  comforts 
which  flow  from  them.  Happinefs  is  here  reprefented 
as  built  on  the  fure  foundation  of  kind  affections,  of 
ufeful  induflry,  of  reciprocal  good  offices,  and  of  the 
fear  of  the  Lord.  Where  all  thefe  unite,  that  houfe 
muff  (land,  that  family  muff  profper^  In  proportion  as 
all  or  any  of  them  are  wanting,  a  partial  or  total  ruin 
muft  enlue.  Let  the  apoftohc  injunctions  ferve  prac- 
tically to  enforce  the  fubjeft.  "  Servants,  be  obedient 
to  thenj  that  are  your  mailers  according  to  the  flefh^ 
with  fear  and  trembling,  in  fmglenefs  of  your  heart, 
as  unto  Chrifl: ;  not  with  eye-fervice,  as  men-pleafers, 
but  as  the  fervants  of  Chrift,  doing  the  will  of  God 
from  the  heart ;.  with  good  v/ill  doing  fervicc,  as  to 
the  Lord,  and  not  to  men :  knowing  that  whatfoever 
(rood  thinp-  anv  man  doeth,  the  fame  lliall  he  receive 
of  the  Lord,  whether  he  be  bond  or  free.  And  ye 
mailers,  do  the  fsine-  things  unto  them,  forbearing 
threatening  :  knowing  tliat  your  mafter  alfo  is  in  heav- 
en ;  neither  is  there  refped  of  perfons  with  him."* 
— "  Charge  them  that  are  rich  in  this  world  that  they 
be  not  high-minded,  nor  truft  in  uncertaiji  riches,  but 
in  the  living  God,  who  giveth  us  richly  all  things 
to  enjoy  ;  that  they  do  good,  that  they  be  rich  in 
rt>Dd  works,  ready  to  diftribute,  willing  to  communi- 
cate ;  laying  up  in  ftore  for  themfelves  a  good  foun- 
dation againil  the  time  to  colne,  that  they  may  lay  hold 
on  eternal  life."t  "  Hearken,  my  beloved  brethren, 
hath  not  God  chofen  the  poor  of  this  world,  rich  in 

faith, 

'  EpliLf.  vi.  5 — 9.  y  I   Tim.  vi.  17 — 19. 


Lect.  XI.  Hijlory  of  Ruth,  147 

faith,  and  heirs  of  the  kingdom  which  he  hath  prom- 
ifed  to  them  that  love  him  ?"* — "  You  yourielves 
know  that  thefe  hands  have  miniftered  unto  my  necef- 
lities,  and  to  them  that  were  with  me.  I  have  fhew- 
ed  you  all  things,  how  that  fo  labouring  ye  ought  to 
fupport  the  weak,  and  to  remember  the  words  of  the 
Lord  Jcfus,  how  he  faid.  It  is  more  bleifed  to  give 
than  to  receive."!  "  Let  -him  that  Hole  fteal  no 
more :  but  rather  let  him  labour,  working  with  his 
hands  the  thing  which  is  good,  that  he  may  have  to 
'^viQ  to  him  that  needeth."  { 

*  James  ii.  5.  f  Afls  xx.  34,  'i^^. 

X  Ephef,  iv.  2%. 


K  z  Hiftory 


Hiftory  of  Ruth. 


LECTURE       XIL 


RUTH    11.    5 17. 

Then  /aid  Boaz  unto  his  fervant  that  was  fet  over  th^ 
reapers,  Whofe  datnfel  is  this  /*  And  the  fervant  that 
was  fet  over  the  reapers  anfwered  and  faidy  It  is  the 
Moabitijh  datnfel  that  came  back  with  Naomi  out  of  the 
coiinV'y  of  Moab :  and  fhe  faid,  1  pray  you  let  vie  glean 
and  gather  after  the  reapers  among  the  Jheaves  :  fojhe 
ca?Jie,  and  hath  continued  even  from  the  jnorning  until 
now,  that  fhe  tarried  a  little  in  the  houfe.  Then  f aid 
Boaz.  unto  Ruth,  Hcareji  thou  not,  my  daughter  ?  Go 
not  to  glean  in  another  field,  neither  go  from  hence,  but 
abide  here  faft  by  my  maidens.  Let  thine  eyes  he  on  the 
field  that  they  do  reap,  and  go  thou  after  them  :  have  I 
tiot  charged  the  young  men  that  theyjhall  not  touch  thee  t 
And  when  thou  art  athirft,  go  unto  the  vejfels,  and  drmk 
of  that  which  the  young  men  have  drawn.  Then  floe  fell 
on  her  face,  and  bowed  herfelf  to  the  ground,  and  f aid 
unto  him.  Why  have  I  found  grace  in  tlmie  eyes,  that 
thou  Jhouldeji  take  knowledge  of  ine,  feeing  I  am  a  ftr an- 
ger ?  And  Boaz  anfwered  and f aid  unto  her.  It  hath 
fully  been  Jhezued  me  all  that  thou  hajl  done  unto  thy 
mother-in-law fince  the  death  ofthi?ie  hujband :  and  hozu 
thou  hafi  left  thy  father  and  thy  mother,  and  the  land 
of  thy  nativity,  and  art  come  unto  a  people  which  thou 
knewefi  not  heretofore.     The  Lord  rccompenfe  thy  work, 

and 


Lect.  XII.  mjiory  of  Ruth,  149 

and  a  full  reward  be  given  thee  of  the  Lord  God  of  If- 
.raelj  under  ivbofe  wings  thou  art  come  to  trufi.  Then 
fhefaid.  Let  me  Jind  favour  in  thyfght,  my  lord ;  for 
that  thou  haji  comforted  me,  and  for  that  thou  hafifpok- 
en  friendly  unto  thine  hand-maid,  though  I  be  not  like  un- 
to one  of  thine  hand-?naidens.  And  Boazfaid  unto  her^ 
At  meal-time  come  thou  hither,  and  eat  of  the  bread,  and 
<lip  thy  m&rfel  in  the  vinegar.  And  fhe  fat  befide  the 
reapers  :  and  he  reached  her  parched  corn,  and  fhe  did 
eat,  and  was  fiifficed,  and  left.  And  whenjhe  was  rif- 
en  up  to  glean,  Boaz,  commanded  his  y.oung  men,  faying. 
Let  her  glean  even  among  the  foeaves,  and  reproach  her 
not.  And  let  fall  alfofome  of  the  handfuls  of  purpofefor 
her,  and  leave  them  that  floe  may  glean  them,  and  re- 
buke her  not.  So  fhe  gleaned  in  the  field  until  even,  and 
beat  out  that  fhe  had  gleaned :  and  it  was  about  an 
ephah  of  barley. 

1  HE  life  of  the  hufbandman  is  full  of  labour  and 
, anxiety,  but  it  is  alfo  fweetened  and  relieved  by  many 
.peculiar  delights.  He  muft  rife  early,  and  often  re- 
tire late  to  reft:;  he  is  expofed  now  to  the  fcorching 
.heat  of  the  meridian  fun,  and  now  to  the  unwhole- 
fome  damps  of  the  night.  He  has  to  watch  every  afpeft 
of  the  fky,  and  to  guard  againft  the  ftrife  of  contend- 
ing elements  :  and  after  all  his  vigilance  and  forefight, 
he  has  frequently  the  mortification  to  fee  the  exertions, 
and  the  hopes  of  a  whole  year,  deftroyed  In  an  hour. 
But  on  the  other  hand,  the  very  variety  which  his  pro- 
feffion  admits  of,  deceives  the  toils  of  it ;  his  life  is 
conftantly  a  life  of  hope  ;  his  health  and  profperity 
flow  from  the  fame  fource  ;  he  fpends  not  his  ftrength 
for  nought  and  in  vain  ;  the  bountiful  parent  earth 
reftores  the  precious  feed  caft  into  it  with  large  in- 
creafe,  thirty,  fixty,  an  hundred  fold.  He  has  the 
pleafure  of  obferving  the  hourly  progrefs  of  vegeta- 
tion ;  of  feeing  his  lupplles  coming  immediately  from 
the  hand  of  Providence.  Piety  and  profit  are  promoted 
.by  the  fame  employments  and  purfuits,  and  the  fubhm- 

eft 


Jjo  Hlfor)  of  kidh.  LiCT.  XtL 

eft  truths  of  teligion  prefs  upon  him  in  the  plaineft  and 
mod:  common  appearances  of  nature.  Add  to  all  this, 
the  labours  of  the  hulbandman  are  of  all  others  the 
moft  efl'ential,  the  moft  important  to  fociety.  Other  arts 
may  minifter  to  wealth,  to  pleafure,  to  convenience 
and  comfort,  but  on  this  depends  the  very  lubfiftence 
of  human  life  ;  and  to  the  plough  and  the  fickle,  the 
ingenious  manufadurer,  the  pampered  citizen  and  the 
haughty  peer  muft,  of  necellity,  look  for  the  main  in- 
gredient of  their  daily  fupport. 

It  was,  then,  in  that  happy  Hate  of  civil  focietv,  the 
fcene  is  laid  which  is  to  be  the  fubject  of  this  evening's 
meditation.  It  was  that  joyful  feafon  of  the  year 
when  the  ardour  of  fummer  was  giving  place  to  the 
tnilder  glory  of  autumn  ;  when  indullry  was  gathering 
in  the  produce  of  hope^  Avhen  the  common  occupa- 
tions of  the  fun-burnt  plain  had  levelled  the  diftindtions 
of  mafter  and  fervant  ;  when  all  was  emulation,  cheer- 
fulnefs  and  joy,  that  Boaz  iliued  forth  betimes  to  luper- 
intend  his  harveft,  and  Ruth  to  glean  after  the  reapers. 
Her  fex,  her  demeanor,  her  employment,  which  be- 
fpoke  her  poverty,  attrafl:  his  notice,  and  excite  his 
compaliion.  There  are  perfons,  there  are  counte- 
nances, there  is  a  deportment,  which  ftrike  at  firft  fight, 
and  create  an  intereft  which  it  is  impolTible  to  account 
for.  The  great  hand  of  nature  has  in  many,  perhaps 
in  moft  inftances, engraven  on  the  external  appearance, 
no  doubtful  or  equivocal  figns  of  the  internal  Ipirit 
and  character.  R.uth  prefented  to  the  eye  of  Boaz  an 
ilmdefcribeable  fomewhat  which  fpoke  her  immediate- 
ly to  be  above  the  level  of  thofe  common  drudges, 
whofe  minds  their  fervil'S  condition  has  degraded  ;  her 
native  greatnefs  Ihone  through  the  veil  that  covered 
it,  and  naturally  led  to  an  inquiry  into  her  fituation 
and  connexions.  The  attention  which  her  figure  and 
occupation  at  firft  roufed,  her  hiftory  |.'Owerfully  fixes 
and  confirms.  The  mournful  ftory  of  Naomi,  and  of 
the  Moabitifii  damfel  her  daughter-in-law,  all  Bethle- 
hem-Judah  hlid  heard,  but  not  one  had  fiepped  forth 

to 


LiECT.  XIL  Hi/lory  of  RiitJ.\  151 

to  acknowledge  and  relieve  them.  Boaz  himfelf  is 
faulty  here.  Had  he  been  informed,  as  he  muft,  of 
the  return  of  his  nearefl  relations,  and  of  their  wretch- 
ed flight,  he  ought  to  have  fought  them  out,  and, 
unlolicited,  to  have  miniftered  to  their  comfort.  He 
is  in  this  refpect  an  inflance  of  what  is  frequently  to 
be  met  with  in  the  w^orld  ;  of  that  calm,  unimpaffion- 
ed  goodncfs  which  is  abundantly  difpofed  to  fuccour 
diftrefs,  when  it  falls  in  the  way,  but  is  not  fufficient- 
ly  zealous,  and  vigorous,  and  adive,  to  go  abroad  in 
queft  of  objects  to  reheve.  But  let  us  not  pretend  to 
look  down  on  moderate  and  ordinary  beneficence, 
till  the  pure  and  fublime  come  more  into  ufe.  The 
former  negle6l  of  Boaz,  and  his  future  zeal,  fliall  but 
.the  more  redound  to  the  glory  of  God. 

— The  Ihort  and  fimple  tale  awakens  a  thoufand 
tender  emotions  in  the  bofom  of  the  good  man.  He 
feels  the  fad  reverfes  to  which  families,  and  flates, 
and  all  fublunary  things  are  expofed.  He  fees  one 
branch  of  his  own  kindred  demolifhed,  extinguifhed. 
A  woman,  a  young  woman,  a  widow,  a  Itranger  in  a 
ftrange  land,  but  one  flep  above  begging  her  bread  ; 
with  a  Hill  more  wretched  mother  to  fuftain  by  the 
ineagre  fruits  of  her  fe.-jblc  indufl:ry.  He  fees  women 
of  condition,  his  equals,  fallen  far  below  the  eftate  of 
the  meaneft  of  his  fervants  and  hand-maids.  Self-re- 
proach perhaps  mingled  with  compaffion,  and  inflant- 
ly  produced  a  refolution  to  compenfate  pail  carelefT- 
nefs  and  unkindnefs,  by  all  that  futu-re  fympathy  and 
friendfhip  could  bellow.  The  dialogue  that  enfues  is 
a  beautiful  exhibition  of  the  honeil  fimplicity  of  na- 
ture. The  characters  are  fupported  with  a  happinefs 
of  exprellion,  and  difplayed  with  a  ftrcngth  and  ex- 
a^lnefs  of  colouring,  worthy  of  flim  who  knows 
what  is  in  man. 

In  Boaz  which  (iiall  we  mod  admire ;  his  prudent 
attention  to  his  own  affairs,  his  winning  condcfcen- 
fion  to  his  inferiors,  or  his  pious  acknowledgment 
of  God  in  every  thing  ?  In  his  condu£l  to  the  forlorn 

ftranger. 


1 52  - .  Hijiory ■  of  Ruth.  LECf.  XIL- 

ftranger,  we  fee  a  heart  overflowing  with  benevolence, 
attending  to  minute  circumitances,  out-running  the 
expectations,  the  very  wifhes  of  the  perion  whom  he 
means  to  oblige.  Obferve  his  dehcacy  ;  he  recom- 
mends the  folitary  helplefs  female  to  the  fociety  and 
protedion  of  thole  of  her  own  fex,  and  by  his  author- 
ity guards  her  from  the  incivility  and  infults  of  the 
other.  He  aims  at  foothing  her  foul  to  peace;  he 
would  have  her  believe  herlelf  at  home.  The  law 
obliged  him  to  permit  her  to  glean,  but  he  makes  a 
free-will  offering  of  much  more  ;  the  liquor  in  the 
veiTels,  the  food  provided  for  the  reapers,  all  is  ten- 
dered to  her  with  hearty  good  will.  Ordinary  minds 
feel  afhamed  at  the  fight  of  poor  relations,  deny  them, 
turn  away  from  them,  hide  their  faces  from  their 
own  flefli.  True  magnanimity  thinks  meanly  of 
nothing  but  vice,  efleems  worth,  though  cloathed  in 
rags,  confiders  the  revolutions  which  affed  every 
thing  under  the  fun,  defpifes  not  the  wretch  of  to-day, 
knowing  that  he  may  be  obliged  to  change  places 
•with  him  to-morrow.  Such  an  one  was  the  wealthy 
owner  of  yonder  happy  field.  The  fpirit  of  the  maf- 
ter  is  diffufed,  it  is  fell  over  the  whole  extended  do- 
main. No  jarring  firing  mars  their  rural  harmony, 
no  contention  reigns,  but  the  flrife,  the  blefled  flrife, 
of  mutual  affection  and  attachment. 

The  character  of  Ruth  opened  upon  us  with  fmgu- 
lar  grace  and  beauty  :  it  unfolds  itfelf  with  equal  en- 
ergy and  propriety.  She  difcovers  from  firft  to  lafl, 
a  loul  iufceptible  of  tender  and  perfevering  attach- 
ment ;  ready  to  yield  the  facrifice  of  eafe,  of  rank,  of 
eilimation,  of  every  thing,  for  the  fake  of  enjoying 
the  teflimony  of  a  good  confcience,  and  the  iociety 
that  file  loved.  She  difcovers  a  fpirit  at  once  fweetly 
timid  and  bafhful,  and  nobly  refoiute  and  undaunted. 
She  iiifpires  love  by  her  gentlenefs,  meeknefs  and 
complacency  ;  llie  commands  refpedl  by  her  firmnefs, 
magnanimity  and  patience.  In  addreffmg  her  moth- 
i^r-in-law,  ffis  ^s  all  amiable  warmth  and  earneftnefs  ; 

ir> 


Leg  f.  XII.    "  Hijlory  of  Ruth.   '  15^ 

■in  replying  to  the  friendly  tenders  of  Boaz,  flie  is  ali 
amiable  referve  and  modefty.  In  fpeaking  to  Naomi 
her  heart  flows  to  her  lips,  her  words  glow,  her  Ipeech.  ■ 
is  copious  and  redundant :  in  aniwering  a  man,  and  a 
ftranger,  her  words  are  few,  die  fpeaks  by  looks  and 
geftures,  and  is  then  moft  eloquent  when  (he  fays 
nothing. 

I  behold  the  effedl  which  youth,  and  fimpliclty, 
and  humblenefs  of  mind,  and  diftrefs  have  made  up- 
on a  generous  and  fenfible  heart.  The  artlefs  fim- 
plicity  of  the  Moabitifh  damiel  have  made  a  deeper 
imprefTion  than  all  that  cunning  and  defign  could 
have  invented  to  allure  affection,  and  impofe  on  the 
underflanding.  Happily  the  progreis  of  virtuous 
love  advances  without  the  confciouinefs  of  the  parties 
concerned  ;  it  is  at  firft  a  mere  intercourfe  of  civility, 
an  attention  to  trifles,  an  interchange  of  kind  words 
and  pleafant  looks.  It  grows  unperceived,  it  gathers 
flrength  by  negleft,  it  has  arrived  at  maturity  before 
it  was  known  to  exifl:,  it  gave  no  warning  of  its  ap- 
proach, and  thereby  became  irrefiftible.  And  has 
the  great  Author  of  nature  vouchfafed  in  his  word  to 
delineate,  in  more  than  one  infliance,  the  nature, 
progrefs,  and  effects  of  this  important  and  neceffary 
paffion,  and  Ihall  we  turn  away  from  it  with  affedied 
delicacy,  or  take  it  up  and  purfue  it  with  indecent 
mirth  ?  No,  if  we  adopt  and  imitate  the  candid,  guile- 
lefs  fimplicity,  arid  the  modeft  referve  of  fcripture,  we 
cannot  greatly  err. 

In  the  cafe  of  Boaz  and  Ruth,  it  was  enchantingly 
grateful  to  the  former,  as  highly  honourable  to  the 
latter,  that  the  decifion  of  the  underfUnding  confirm- 
ed the  judgment  of  the  eyes.  He  had  known,  admir- 
ed and  approved  the  conduft,  before  he  had  feen  and 
admired  the  beauty  of  the  perfon,  and  the  gracefulncfs 
of  the  behaviour.  The  charms  of  wifdom,  virtue  and 
piety,  fuperadded  to  perfonal  accomplifnments,  what 
a  happy  combination  ;  what  a  foundation  of  felicity  I 
The  latter  indeed,  will  and  muft  fade,  but  their  cf- 

fed 


.i54  HifiGvy  of  Ruth,  Lect.  XIL 

fed  is  immortal ;  the  company  in  which  they  flour- 
illied  and  brou^^ht  forth  fruit,  beflows  on  them  a  per- 
manency not  their  own.  How  wretched  is  that  fe- 
male all  whofe  confequence  is  fled  with  her  bloom  ; 
who  depended  on  rank  or  fortune  to  command  re- 
fped ;  who  has  loft  the  admiration  and  appiauie  of 
others,  before  ihe  has  begun  to  acquire  the  dignity  of 
felf-approhation,  the  only  genuine  fource  of  public 
efteem. 

The  hiftory  before  us  ftrikingly  dii'plays  the  tranfi- 
tlon  from  pity  to  love  on  the  one  hand,  from  gratitude 
to  love  on  the  other.  Compalhon  in  Boaz,  fenfe  of 
obligation  in  Ruth,  txcite  the  fame  mutual  atfectiou 
in  both.  It  becomes  hh  pride  and  joy  to  raife  her  to 
that  diftinclion  and  aifluence. which  fhe  fo  well  merit- 
ed ;  it  is  h^r  pride  and  joy  to  repay  the  tendernefs  of 
her  benefador  by  every  kind  office  of  compliance  and 
afteclion.  She  had  hitherto  pleafed  herfelf  with  the 
confcioufnefs  of  having  done  her  duty  ;  flie  had  not 
hunted  after  praife ;  fhe  had  difcovered  no  anxiety, 
taken  no  pains  to  publiih  abroad  her  ov/n  merits  ;  but 
honour  will  follow  virtue,  as  the  fhadow  does  the 
fiibftance,  and  the  flight  of  the  one  but  accelerates  the 
purfuit  of  the  other.  And  how  grateful  muft  it  have 
been  even  to  the  modeft  ear  of  Ruth  herfelf,  to  hear 
her  conduct  approved,  and  her  qualities  celebrated, 
by  the  wife  and  good  man  who  had  taken  her  under 
his  prote6tion,  and  admitted  her  to  his  friendfliip. 
The  praife  which  goodnefs  confers  on  goodnefs,  the 
praife  which  a  man's  own  heart  and  confcience  allow 
to  be  merited,  praife  beftowed  by  one  v^'e  love  and 
efteem  is  a  feafi:  indeed  ;  it  does  equal  honour,  it 
communicates  equal  delight  to  the  giver  and  the  re- 
ceiver ;  it  is  an  anticipation  of  the  glorious  rewards 
of  the  faithful,  from  iilm  whofe  favour  is  better  than 
life.  But  fave  me,  merciful  Heaven,  from  the  com- 
mendation which  my  own  mind  rejects.  Save  me 
from  the  approbiition,  the  ill-informed  approbation 
of  ignorant  erring  man,  while  I  have  juft  caufe  to 

tremble 


Lect.  XII.  Utflory  of  Ruih.  155 

tremble  under  tke  apprehenfioil  of  condemnation  and 
puniftnneiit  from  a  holy  and  righteous  God. 

The.  cordial  of  cordials  adminiliered  by  the  hand  of 
Boaz  to  this  truly  excellent  woman,  -was  his  recom- 
mendation of  her  to  the  care,  bleifing  and  proteclion 
of  the  Almighty.  It  was  much  to  be  permitted  to 
pick  up  a  fcanty  livelihood  among  ftrangers  ;  it  was 
much  to  meet  with  notice  and  encouragement  from  a 
mighty  man  of  wealth  in  a  foreign  land  ;  it  was  high- 
ly Toothing  to  a  fpirit  broken  by  calamity  to  be  ap- 
proved and  careffed  by  a  great  and  a  good  man  ;  but 
all  this  was  nothing  compared  to  the  fmilcs  of  approv- 
ing Heaven,  in  ivveet  accord  with  the  ferenity  and 
compoiure  of  a  quiet  and  approving  confcience.  How 
cordially  could  flie  pronounce  "  amen'*  to  his  aii'ec- 
tionate  and  pious  prayer,  "  The  Lord  recompenfe  thy 
work,  and  a  full  reward  be  given  thee  of  the  Lord 
God  of  Ifrael,  under  whofe  wings  thou  art  come  to 
truft.''^* 

The  petition  contains  a  piece  of  fweet  imagery,  of 
which  interpreters  have  given  different  ideas.  "  Lhi- 
der  whofe  v/ings  thou  art  come  to  trurt."  The  ex- 
preffion,  according  to  fome,  implies  an  approbation  of 
her  refolution  in  renouncinc:  the  rehgion  of  her  coun- 
try  and  fathers,  in  forfaking  the  idol  wordiip  v/herein 
ihe  had  been  educated,  and  in  deliberately  joining  her- 
ieif  to  the  Ifraelites  and  worfiiip  of  the  living  and  true 
God.  The  words,  it  is  alleged,  have  an  allulion  to 
the  Shechinah,  the  vilible  glory,  the  fymbol  of  the 
divine  prefence  which  refided  between,  or  under,  the 
wings  cf  the  cherubim  whicli  were  extended  over 
the  mercy-feat.  This  is,  as  it  were,  the  point  in  which 
all  the  parts  of  the  difpenfation  concentered,  and  there- 
fore is  employed  to  denote  in  brief,  all  that  related  to 
the  knowledge,  belief  and  fervice  of  Jehovah,  in  op- 
pofition  to  ilolatry. 

Others  coniider  it  as  nierely  a  tender  and  fignifi- 
cant  image,   borrowed  from  nature,  and  frequently 

employed 

*  Vcrfc  12. 


■XS^  Hi/iory  of  Ruth.  Lect.  XIL 

■employed  in  other  paflages  of  fcriptvire,  the  image  of 
the  tender  callow  brood  of  the  feathered  race  fleeing, 
in  the  moment  of  danger,  for  proteftion,  under  the 
fhelter  of  the  parental  wing.  In  either  cafe,  it  marks 
the  providential  care,  and  the  facred  fecurity  extend- 
ed to  all  who  feek  refuge  in  the  divine  wifdom  and 
mercy.  No  plague  fiiall  come  nigh  the  place  where 
they  dwell,  no  evil  fliall  befal  them.  It  unfolds  the 
fpirit  of  a  truly  good  man,  difpofed  to  do  every  thing 
that  humanity  didates,  and  ability  permits,  for  the  re- 
lief of  the  fons  and  daughters  of  afflidion  ;  but  deeply 
impreffed  with  the  belief  that  without  the  blefling  and 
favour  of  Heaven  the  interpoHtion  of  man  is  vain  and 
iinprofitable.  He  refers  not  to  the  divine  bounty  as 
an  exemption  from  deeds  of  charity  and  mercy,  but 
to  render  his  benevolence  .effeftual,  and  to  crown, 
qpromote  and  profper  his  kind  intentions ;  to  fill  up 
the  meafure  of  his  liberal  defign,  which,  after  all,  was 
narrowed  and  contrafted  by  llendernefs  of  ability. 

The  effect  of  the  whole  upon  Ruth  is  the  fame 
-which  a  fenfe  of  unmerited  friendfliip  from  man,  and 
the  expedation  of  blefiings  from  on  high,  will  ever 
produce  on  a  good  and  honeil  heart.  As  (he  rifes  in 
situation,  as  fne  rifes  in  hope,  flie  fmks  in  humility* 
"  Then  fne  faid,  Let  me  find  favour  in  thy  fight,  my 
lord  ;  for  that  thou  haft  comforted  me,  and  for  that 
-tliou  haft  fpolcen  friendly  unto  thine  hand-maid,  though 
I  be  not  like  unto  one  of  thy  hand-maidens."* 

Thh  draws  from  the  benevolent  lord  of  the  harveft 
reiterated  a/liirances  of  regard  and  fympathy.  He 
again  runs  over  the  whole  ftore  of  the  field,  ieft  he 
ihould  have  omitted  any  p5.rticular  in  his  former  enu- 
Tiicration ;  agiin  intimates  a  cheerful  and  unaffefted 
v/elcome  to  what  (lie  could  defire,  or  he  had  to  beftow. 
In  this,  if  1  miftake  not,  may  be  feen  the  farther 
profrefs  of  alTe6lion.  Ruth  gains  upon  his  heart  by 
«very  word  fne  utters,  by  every  gefture  and  attitude  ; 
and  pleafes  moft^,  from  having  formed,  from  purfuing 

no 


Iect.  Xir.'  liijiory  of  Rui'b.  i'^f 

no  defign  to  pleafe.  The  greater  her  diffidence  and 
felf-denial,  the  greater  is  his  earneftnefs  to  bring  her 
forward,  and  to  fupport  her.  She  was  by  the  former 
order  permitted  to  go  at  pleafure  and  i'erve  herfelf 
with  whatever  was  in  the  field  for  the  general  ufc  ; 
now,  fhe  is  invited  to  join  the  company  where  Boaz 
himielf  prefided  ;  fhe  is  fed  from  his  own  hand,  and 
her  portion  is  not  a  fcanty  one,  "  fhe  did  eat  and  was 
fufficed  and  left.'*  It  was  thus  that  Jofeph  exprelTed 
the  partiality  of  his  aifedion  for  Benjamin  his  own 
brother,  his  mefs  was  five  times  fo  much  as  any  of 
theirs  ;  and  thus  in  artlefs  guife,  the  growing  palFion 
of  Boaz  for  the  fair  Moabitefs  declared  itfelf ;  and 
thus,  not  in  high-flown  rhapfodies  of  unmeaning  jar- 
gon, but  in  little  attentions,  in  petty  offices  of  kindnefs, 
the  genuine  effufions  of  unfophiflicated  nature,  the 
generous  pafllon  of  love,  always  will  declare  its  exiPt- 
ence  and  quahty.  Happy,  thrice  happy  banquet,  far 
beyond  ?A\  the  luxury  and  pride  of  unwieldy,  uneafy, 
unbleffed  magnificence.  There  they  fit,  under  the 
open  canopy  of  heaven,  the  mafler,  the  fervants,  the 
flranger,  in  one  group.  Their  l^re  is  homely,  but 
labour  has  made  it  pleafant  to  fit  dov/n,  and  hunger 
gives  to  the  food  a  rehfh. 

But  what  a  fuperior  relifh  did  the  morfel  of  Boaz 
himfelf  polfefs !  Think  what  a  banquet,  to  fee  his  nu- 
merous family  around  him,  all  contented  and  happy  ; 
to  give  bread  to  fo  many,  and  to  receive  the  ample  re- 
turn of  it  in  their  honeft  attachment,  and  in  the  fruits 
of  their  induflry.  What  a  luxury,  to  feed  a  hungry, 
to  raife  a  finking  flranger  !  to  render  gentle  fervices 
to  a  deferving  object,  which  humanity  infpired,  the 
underflaiiding  confirmed,  the  heart  directed,  and 
Heaven  approved !  What  a  defert,  to  reflect  that  all 
thefe  comforts  flowed  from  a  heavenly  Father's  benef- 
icence, that  thus  he  was  "  twice  bleffed,"  blefled  in 
receiving,  bleffed  in  giving. 

The  felicity  of  Ruth  was  far  from  being  fo  pure 
and  perfed.     She  felt  the  depreflion  of  dependence 

and 


15S  ll'tjlory  of  Ruih.  LccT.  XIL 

and  obligailon  ;  obligation  which  ^v\q.  had  no  profpeft 
of  ever  being  able  to  repay.  She  felt  for  the  anxiety, 
diflrefs  and  want  of  a  venerable  aged  woman,  for 
whom  nothing  was  provided  ;  who  was  fitting  folitary 
at  home  brooding  over  pafl  calamities,  and  torment- 
ing herfelf  with  apprehenfians  about  futurity.  She  can 
hardly  fwallow  her  own  morfel  for  grief  to  think  that 
one  more  helplefs,  more  feeble,  more  friendlefs  than 
herfelf,  v/anted  the  common  neceflaries  of  life ;  that 
Naomi  was  perhaps  failing  till  flie  returned,  and,  worfe 
than  fafting,  tormented  with  folicitude  about  her 
fafcty.  The  fweeteft  part  of  the  repafl  to  Ruth  was 
the  portion  llie  had  refer ved  from  her  own  neceflities 

•for  the  fuftentation  of  her  ancient,  affeftioFxate,  flarv- 
ing  parent. 

Their  frugal  fimple  meal  being  ended,  they  rife  up, 
not  to  play,  but  to  work  again,  and  continue  their  la- 
bour until  the  evening.  A  frefli  charge  is  given  to 
the  reapers  on  no  account  to  dilturb,  or  infult  the 
lovely  gleaner,  and  the  young  men  are  direfted  to 
find  no  fault  with  her,  gather  where  ihe  would,  even 
among  the  flieaves  before  they  were  bound  up  ;  and 
to  drop  here  and  there  a  handful,  as  if  by  accident, 
to  render  her  toil  more  pleafant  and  ealy,  without 
hurting  her  honeft  pride.  This  injuncLion  could  pro- 
ceed onlv  from  a   delicate  and  ineenuous  mind.     To 

■have  made  her  directly  a  prefent  of  the  ears  of  com, 
had  been  an  indignity  oliered  to  her  poverty  ;  to 
fcatter  them  without  any  apparent  defign,  was  efl'eclu- 
aliy  to  facilitate  her  labour,  and  dimmilh  her  fatigue^ 
"withovit  rendering  the  burden  of  obhgation  too  griev- 
ous to  be  borne.  The  manner  of  conferring  a  bene- 
fit, it  cannot  be  too  olten  repeated,  infinitely  outweighs 
the  matter.  The  comfort  of  human  life,  is  a  combi- 
nation of  little,  minute  attentions,  which,  taken  fepa- 
rately,  are  nothing,  but  connecled  with  the  circum- 
fiances  of  time,  place  and  m:inner,  as  coming  from  the 
heart,  as   tokens  Oi  good-will,  poU'eiS  a  value  and  in- 

Ipirc 


Lect.  XII,-  iJiJiwy  of  RutB.  159 

fpire  a  pleafure  beyond  the  purchafe  of  gold  and 
rubies. 

Think  of  the  heart-felt  fatisfacclon  of  the  amiable 
labourer,  when  at  the  going  down  of  the  fun,  on  fep- 
arating  the  flraw  and  chaif"  from  the  good  grain,  and 
mealuring  the  produce  of  her  patience  and  induftry, 
fhe  found  it  amount  to  fo  confiderable  a  quantity  I 
Would  you  make  a  poor  man  happy,  do  not  encour- 
age him  to  beg.  Idlenefs  and  happinefs  are  incom- 
patible. No,  render  his  toil  a  little  eafier  to  him, 
teach  him  to  draw  his  fubfiflence  and  comfort  from, 
and  to  build  his  dependence  upon  himfelf. 

And  now  Ruth's  comfort  was  going  to  begin  ;  it 
was  hitherto  mixed  and  imperfect — it  now  flows  pure 
and  unreflrained.  She  has  it  in  her  power  to  relieve 
indigence,  to  remove  anxiety,  to  difpel  forrow,  to 
make  the  widowed  heart  fmg  for  joy.  See  with  what 
exultation  flie  produces  her  ftore,  re-meafures  her 
corn,  details  the  adventures  of  the  day,  and  receives, 
in  communicating  joy.  This,  O  virtuous  friendfhip, 
is  thy  prefent  great  reward !  Such,  if  pride  and  per- 
verfenefs  prevented  not,  the  felicity  which  Providence 
has  gracioufly  placed  within  every  one's  reach  !  Let 
me  have  fome  friendly  ear,  in  the  calmnefs  of  the 
evening's  retreat,  to  liften  to  my  tale  ;  fome  fympa- 
thetic  heart,  to  participate  in  my  forrows  and  my  joys, 
and  I  care  not  what  hardfliips  I  endure,  what  mortifi- 
cations I  meet  with,  through  the  live-long  day.  Friend- 
fhip doubles  the  delights,  divides,  and  thereby  dimin- 
ifjies,  the  cares  and  miferies  of  this  tranfitory  life. 

Think  of  the  compofed  felicity  of  the  ancient  mat- 
ron, as  fhe  furveyed  the  fruits  of  her  beloved  daugh- 
ter's dutiful  exertions,  and  heard  the  artlefs  ftory  of 
a  harvell  day's  employment  and  recreation.  Yes,  fhe 
is  the  happier  of  the  two.  The  joys  of  age  are  calm, 
untumultuous,  untempefluous  ;  thofe  of  youth  have 
always  a  mixture  of  ardour  and  impetuofity,  that  allays 
their  purity,  and  hailens  on  their  dlilblution.  We 
fiucerelv  bid  them  good  night,  and  leave  them  to  the 

fweet 


i6o  Ni/tory  of  Rufb.  Lect.  Xlt 

fweet  repofe  of  confcious  integrity,  of  acquiefcence  in 
the  will  and  thanktuhid's  for  the  bounty  of  gracious 
Heaven,  and  of  budding,  bloflbming  hope  of  greater 
bleilings  yet  to  come. 

— At  what  a  fmall  expenfe  may  a  great  man  ac- 
quire refpedl,  efleem,  love  ?  How  inhnilely  nature 
excels  art !  In  how  fnuple  and  eafy  a  method  does 
Providence  bring  about  the  greatelt  events  !  "  Godli- 
nefs  is"  every  way  "  great  gain  :  '  it  has  "  the  prom- 
ile  of  the  life  that  now  is,  and  of  that  which  is  to 
come.** 


l^iftory 


Hiftory  of  Ruth, 


LECTURE     XIII. 

RUTH  ii.  19 — 23.  and  Hi.  i. 

And  her  mother-in-lazu  /aid  unto  her.  Where  hajl  thou 
gleaned  to-day  ?  And  where  wroughteji  thou  ?  Blejfect 
be  he  that  did  take  knowledge  of  thee.  And  Jhe ./hewed 
her  7mther-in-law  with  whomjhe  had  wrought,  and/aid^ 
The  man^s  name  with  whom  I  wrought  to-day  is  Boaz. 
And  'Naomi  f aid  unto  her  daughter-in-law,  Blejfed  be  he 
of  the  Lord,  who  hath  not  left  off  his  kindnefs  to  the  liv- 
ing and  to  the  dead.  And  Naomi  faid  unto  her.  The 
man  is  near  of  kin  unto  us,  one  of  our  next  kinffnen.  And 
Ruth  the  Moabittfs  faid.  He  faid  unto  me  alfo.  Thou 
fhalt  keep f aft  by  my  young  men,  until  they  have  ended  all 
?ny  harveji.  And  Naomi  faid  unto  Ruth  her  daughter  - 
in-law.  It  is  good,  my  daughter,  that  thou  go  out  with  his 
maidens,  that  they  meet  thee  not  in  any  other  field.  Sa 
fhe  kept  fajt  by  the  maidens  of  Boaz  to  glean  unto  the 
end  of  barley-harveft,  and  of  wheat -harveji  ;  and  dwelt 
with  her  mother-in-law.  Then  Naomi  her  mother-in- 
law  faid  unto  her.  My  daughter,  Jhall  I  not  feek  rejl  for 
thee,  that  it  may  be  well  with  thee  ? 

IN  OTHING  is  more  abfurd  than  to  judge  of  ancient 
and  foreign  cuftoms,  by  the  falliion  of  our  own  coun- 
try and  of  the  prefent  day.  Language,  manners,  and 
drefs  are  incefTantly  changing  their  form.  Were  our 
Vol.  VI.  L  anceftors 


1 62  Hijhry  of  Ruth.  Lect.  XITI.  ■ 

anceftors  of  the  laft  century  to  arife  from  the  dead, 
and  to  appear  in  the  habit  of  their  own  times,  their 
great  grand-children  and  they  would  be  utter  llrangers 
to  one  another.  Their  fpeech  would  be  mutually  unin- 
telligible, their  modes  of  behaviour  uncouth,  their  ap- 
parel ridiculous.  How  much  more,  after  the  lapfe  of 
niany  centuries  has  intervened,  and  the  fcene , Ihifted 
to  a  diftant  land,  peopled  by  men  of  a  different  com- 
plexion, governed  by  different  laws,  and  communicat- 
ing thought  by' means  of  a  different  language. 

One  of  the  great  plealures  arifnig  from  the  ftudyof 
ancient  hillory,  is  to  trace  thefe  differences,  to  contem- 
plate the  endlefs  variety  of  the  human  mind,  ever 
chan-ging,  ftill  the  fame  ;  to  compare  age  with  age,  na- 
tion with  nation,  in  order  to  excite  admiration- of  the 
great  Creator's  wifdom  and  goodnefs,  and  to  infpire 
love  towards  our  fellow-creatures; 

In  examining  the  cuftoms  defcribed  in  the  context, 
let  it  be  remembered,  that  they  are  the  cufloms  of 
men  who  lived  upwards  of  three  thoufand  years  ago, 
who  inhabited  a  different  quarter  of  the  globe,  whofe 
ideas,  employments  and  purfuits  had  no  manner  of 
refemblance  to  ours,  and  who  would  be  equally  afton- 
illied,  (liocked  and  offended,  were  modern  and  Euro- 
pean manners  made  to  pafs  in  review  before  them. 
And  let  it  be  farther  remembered,  that  we  fpeak  of 
ci'Jloms  and  jmmners  only,  and  not  of  morals  ;  of  cir- 
cumftances  which  from  their  own  nature  and  the  cur- 
rent of  human  affairs  are  liable  to  alteration,  not  oi 
things  ii\  themfelves  eternal  and  immutable. 

We  have  feen  by  what  eafy  and  natural  progrefsj. 
the  providence  of  God  carried  on  its  purpofe  reipeft- 
ing  the  pofterity  of  Abraham  in  general,  and  the  roy- 
al line  of  the  houfe  of  David  in  particular,  and  re- 
fpecting  a  much  higher  objeft,  to  which  this  was  a 
mere  miniftring  fcrvant,  an  harbinger  and  preparation, 
namely,  "  the  manifeftation  of  God  in  the  fleffi,"  for 
the  redemption  of  a  loft  world.  We  have  feen  the 
Gommencemejit  of  the  temporal  rewards  of  virtue,  and" 

the 


Lbct.  XIII.  Hiftory  of  Ruth,  16^3 

the  dawning  of*  everlafling  joy.  We  are  now  to  at- 
tend the  progrefs  of  divine  beneficence,  of  providen- 
tial interpofition,  to  crown  the  endeavours,  and  pro- 
mote the  happinefs  of  the  faithful. 

Ruth   has    returned    to    her  mother-in-law,    laden 
with  the  fruits  of  honed  indultry,  and  provided  wiih 
a  fupply  for  prefent  neceffity  ;  cheered  and  comforted 
by  the  benevolence  of  a  refpeftable  ftranger,  and  ex- 
ulting in  the  profpeft  of  future  employment  and  fuc- 
cefs.     Sweet  are  the   communications  of  fihal  attach- 
ment and  profperity  to  the  ear  of  maternal  tenderne-s. 
It  is  not  eafy  to  conceive  happinefs  more  pure  than  was 
enjoyed  that  evening  by  thefe   amiable  and  excellent 
women.     Artlefs,  undefigning  Ruth  Teems  to  look  no 
farther  than  to  the  remainder  of  the  harveft,  the  con-, 
tinuation  of  her  labour,  and  of  protection  and  encour- 
agement from  Boaz,  and  to  the  pleafure  of  fupporting 
herfelf  and  aged  parent  by  her  own  exertions.     But 
Naomi,  more  experienced  and  intelligent,  begins  to 
build  on  the  hiitory  of  what  Providence  had  done  for 
them  that  day,  a  project  of  recompenfe  to  her  beloved 
daughter,  which  her  piety  and  affeftion  fo  well  merited, 
even  no  lefs  than  that  of  uniting  her  to  Boaz  in  mar- 
riage.    Was   fhe  to  be  blamed  in  this  ?  By  no  means. 
It  is  criminal  to  outrun  Providence,  it  is  madnefs  to 
think  of  conftraining  or  bending  it  to  our  partial,  felfifh 
views.     But  it  is  wifdom,  it  is  duty  to  exercife  fagacity, 
to  obfervethe  ways  of  the  Almighty,  and  to  follow  where 
he  leads.    The  advice  Ihe  gives  in  purfuance  of  this  de- 
fign,  and  Ruth's  ready  compliance,  have,  according  to 
our  ideas  a  very  extraordinary  and  queftionable  appear- 
ance, and  feem  ratiier  calculated  to  defeat  than  to  for- 
ward the  end  which  they  had  in  view  ;  but  modern  re- 
finement and  licentioufnefs  are  little  competent  to  judge 
of  luftic  limplicity  and  ancient  purity.     The  proceed-^ 
ing  was   authorized  by  cuftom,   was  free  from  every 
taint  of  immorality,  and  had  not  in  the  eyes  of  the 
world  even  the  femblance  of  indecency.     The  parties 
were  all  virtuous,  they  feared  the  Lord,  theyconform- 
L  2  ed 


i6'4  Hijht:y  of  Ruth.  LtcT.  XIH. 

cd  to  the  laws  and  ufages  of  their  country,  and  Heav- 
en fmiled  on  their  honeft,  unfullied  intentions. 

Had  I  the  happinefs,  with  a  mind  as  pure,  to  ad- 
drefs  ears  as  chafte,  imaginations  as  undefiled,  I  lliould 
without  hefitation  or  fear  enter  on  the  detail  of  the 
tranfaction  as  it  (lands '  on  the  record..  But  regard 
mull  be  had  to  the  prejudices  of  the  times,  to  the  pro- 
priety and  decency  which  cuftom  has  eftabUfhed,  re- 
marking at  the  fame  time,  that  guilt  is  the  parent  of 
Ihame,  and  that  an  over-refined  dehcacy  is  too  often 
the  proof  of  a  polluted  heart. 

The  marriage  of  Boaz  to  Ruth  is  the  only  inflancc 
we  have  of  the  application  of  a  civil  and  political  ftat- 
ute  of  long  ftanding  :  which  runs  in  thefe  terms,  ^ 
*'  The  land  fliall  not  be  fold  forever  :  for  the  land  is 
mine  ;  for  ye  are  (Irangers  and  fojourners  with  me. 
And  in  all  the  land  of  your  pofleffion  ye  fhall  grant  a 
redemption  for  the  land.  If  thy  brother  be  waxen 
poor,  and  hath  fold  aw^ay  fome  of  his  pofleffion,  and 
if  any  of  his  kin  come  to  redeem  it,  then  (hall  he  re- 
deem that  which  his  brother  fold.  And  if  the  man 
have  none  to  redeem  it,  and  himfelf  be  able  to  redeem 
it ;  then  let  him  count  the  years  of  the  fale  thereof, 
and  reflore  the  overplus  unio  the  man  to  whom  he 
fold  it ;  that  he  may  return  unto  his  pofleffion.  But 
if  he  be  not  able  to  reflore  it  to  him,  then  that  which 
is  fold  fhall  remain  in  the  hand  of  him  that  hath  bought 
it  until  the  year  of  jubilee :  and  in  the  jubilee  it  fliall 
go  out,  and  he  (hall  return  unto  his  poflfeffion."  *  And 
it  ftands  in  connexion  with  another  law  circumftan- 
tially  narrated.  "  If  brethren  dwell  together,  and 
one  of  them  die  and  have  no  child,  the  wife  of  the 
dead  fliall  not  marry  without  unto  a  ftranger  :  her 
huiloand's  brother  fliall  go  in  unto  her,  and  take  her 
to  him  to  wife,  and  perform  the  duty  of  an  hu(band's 
brother  unto  her.  And  it  fliall  be,  that  the  firft-born 
which  flie  beareth  (hall  fucceed  in  the  name  of  his  bro- 
ther which  is  dead,  that  his  name  be  not  put  out  of 

Ifrael. 
*  Lev.  XXV.  23 — 28,  . 


Lect.  XIII.  WJlcry  of  Ruth.  165 

Ifrael.  And  if  the  man  like  not  to  take  his  brother*s 
wife,  then  let  his  brother's  wife  go  up  to  the  gate  unto 
the  elders,  and  fay.  My  hufband's  brother  refufeth  to 
raife  up  unto  his  brother  a  name  in  Ifrael,  he  will  not 
perform  the  duty  of  my  hufband's  brother.  Then 
the  elders  of  his  city  jfhall  call  him,  and  fpeak  unto 
him :  and  if  he  (land  to  it,  and  fay,  I  like  not  to  take 
her ;  then  fliall  his  brother's  wife  come  unto  him  in 
the  prefence  of  the  elders,  and  loofe  his  fhoe  from  oiT 
his  foot,  and  fpit  in  his  face,  and  fhall  anfwcr  and  fav. 
So  fhall  it  be  done  unto  that  man  that  will  not  build  up 
his  brother's  houfe.  And  his  name  fhall  be  called  in 
Ifrael,  The  houfe  of  him  that  hath  his  flioe  loofed."* 
The  whole  fpirit  of  the  Mofaic  difpenfation  confiders 
the  great  Jehovah  as  the  temporal  fovereign  of  Ifrael, 
the  land  as  his,  the  fupremacy  his.  Every  Ifraelite  re- 
ceived his  inheritance  under  the  exprefs  ftipulation 
that  it  fhould  not  be  alienated  from  him  and  from  his 
family  forever.  That  if,  prefTed  by  neceflity,  he 
fhould  fell  the  whole  or  any  part  of  it,  he  himfelf  or 
his  nearefb  of  kindred  might  at  any  future  period  re- 
deem it ;  that  at  the  worfl,  in  the  year  of  jubilee,  it 
fhould  revert  unpurchafed  to  the  ancient  proprietor  or 
his  reprefentative  ;  and  thereby  fuccelTion  and  proper- 
ty be  preferved  diflinft  till  the  purpofes  of  Heaven 
ihould  be  accomplilhed. 

To  give  the  law  farther  and  more  certain  effed:,  it 
was  enacted,  that  if  the  elder  branch  of  the  familv  and 
the  heir  of  the  inheritance  fhould  die  childlefs-;,  his 
next  elder  brother  or  nearefl  male  relation  fhould 
marry  the  widow  ;  and  that  the  iffue  of  fuch  marriage 
(liould  be  deemed  to  belong  to  the  deceafed,  fhould  ai- 
fume  his  name,  and  fucceed  to  his  inheritance.  Here 
then  was  the  family  of  Elimelech  ready  to  be  extin- 
guifhed  :  he  and  his  two  Tons  were  all  dead  without 
pofherity.  Naomi  was  pall  child-bearing,  the  lands 
were  ready  to  pafs  into  the  hands  of  flrangers,  fc-r 
want  of  an  heir,  the  hope  of  fucceflion  exilling  alone 

in 
*  Deut.  xxT.  ^ — 10. 


l66  Hi/iory  of  Ruth.  Lect.  XIII. 

in  the  perfon  of  Ruth  the  Moabhefs,  the  widow  of 
Mahlon.  The  meafure  therefore  recommended  by 
Naomi,  and  adopted  by  Ruth,  was  neither  lefs  nor 
more  than  a  legal  call  on  Boaz,  as  the  fuppofed  nearefl 
kinrman  of  that  branch  of  the  family,  to  fulfil  the  duty 
of  that  relation :  Naomi  not  knowing,  or  having  for- 
gotten that  there  was  a  kinfman  dill  nearer  than  him. 
Boaz,  apprized  of  this,  and  refpecling  the  laws  of  God 
and  his  country,  preferably  to  his  own  pafTions  and 
predilection,  refers  the  whole  caule  to  a  fair,  open,  ju- 
dicial decifion. 

The  conduct  of  Boas  throughout  is  exemplary  and 
"w<:)rthy  of  commendation  :  it  befpeaks  at  once  a  wife 
?nd  a  good  man.  We  have  expatiated  at  confiderable 
length  on  his  charafter  as  a  m,an  of  piety,  regularity 
and  humanity;  we  have  beflowed  on  him  the  juft  trib- 
ute of  admiration  and  refped:,  as  a  man  of  fenfibility, 
as  iufceptible  of  pity  for  the  miferable,  of  kindnefs  to 
the  flranger,  of  love  for  a  deferving  objeft.  His 
charafter  acquires  much  additional  relpeftability 
fr^  m  this  laft  confideration,  connected  with  the 
delicacy  of  his  fituation  as  a  man  and  a  citizen. 
His  partiality  to  Ruth  was  clear  and  decided.  In  the 
confidence  of  virtue  fhe  had  put  herfelf  entirely  in  his 
power  ;  and  what  ufe  did  he  make  of  this  advantage  ? 
Never  was  father  more  tender  of  the  reputation  and 
challity  of  his  daughter.  Every  felfifn  confideration 
is  )unk  in  fenfe  of  propriety,  in  refpecl  to  the  divine 
authority,  in  folicitude  about  the  honour  and  interefl 
of  the  woman  whom  he  loved.  His  partiality  to  Ruth 
was  decided,  but  the  right  of  redemption  was  in  an- 
other, and  he  nobly  diidains  to  avail  himfelf  of  wealth, 
of  power,  of  prior  poffefiion,  to  the  prejudice  of  that 
right.  What  is  the  vidory  of  the  warlike  hero  com- 
pared to  this  triumph  of  a  man  over  himfelf!  What 
are  trophies  flained  with  blood,  oppofed  to  the  filent 
applaufe  of  a  good  confcience,  and  the  approbation  of 
Almighty  God  !  I  fee  him  bringing  the  caufe  to  the 
determination  of  the  judges,  with  the  firmnefs  of  an 

honeft 


Lect.  XIII.  Eijiory  of  Ruth.  167 

honeft  man,  with  the  anxiety  of  one  in  love,  and  with 
the  refignation  of  one  who  feared  the  Lord,  and  com- 
mitted all  to  the  conduci  of  inlinite  wildom.  Clharac- 
ters  fhine  by  contraft.  The  nearer  kinfman's  verfatil- 
ity,  difingenuoufnefs,  and  infeniibihty  to  fliame,  ferve 
as  a  foil  to  the  firmnefs,  candour,  and  delicacy  of 
Boaz.  When  the  former  hears  of  a  good  bargain, 
when  he  conftders  the  advantage  of  his  birth  as  the 
means  of  flepping  into  a  vacant  inheritance  upon  eafy 
terms,  he  is  all  acquiefcence  and  eagernefs  ;  but  the 
-moment  he  hears  of  the  condition  under  which  he  is 
to  purchafe,.of  the  affumption  of  the  widow,  of  the 
relief  of  the  miierablp,  of  tranfmitting  the  name  of 
Elimelech,  not  his  own,  to  poflerity,  together  with  his 
lands,  he  inilantly  cools,  fubmits  to  the  infamy  of 
having  "  his  (hoe  pulled  off,"  of  being  publickly  fpit 
upon,  of  having  his  houfe  branded  with  a  note  of  dif- 
grace,  and  leaves  the  field  open  to  a  much  better  man 
;than  himfelfo 

It  is  much  eafier  to  conceive  than  to  defcribe  the 
folicitude  of  the  parties,  while  the  caufe  was  yet  in 
■dependence.  What  a  blow  to  the  heart  of  Boaz, 
when  he,  on  whom  the  law  beftov/ed  the  preference, 
declared  his  alfent  to  the  propofal  ;  v/hat  difappoint- 
ment  to  the  hopes  of  Naomi,  v/ho  had  evidently  fet 
her  mind  on  this  match  ;  what  a  damp  thrown  on  the 
wifhes  and  expetlations  of  Ruth,  on  whofe  fufceptible 
heart  the  goodnefs  and  generofity  of  Boaz  muft  have 
made  a  deep  impreilion !  What  relief  to  all,  to  hear 
him  folemnly  retract  his  affent,  refign  his  right,  and 
fubmit  to  the  penalty.  Thofe  are  the  genuine  delights 
of  human  life  at  which  we  arrive  through  danger  and 
difficulty,  which  are  the  immediate  gift  of  Heaven, 
which  we  have  not  employed  improper  arts  to  acquire, 
and  which  we  can  therefore  enjoy  without  fliame  or 
remorfe.  The  felicity  which  v/e  are  in  too  great  hafte 
to  grafp,  which  v/e  purfue  independent  of  God  and  re- 
ligion, which  by  crooked  paths  we  arrive  at,  proves 
at  befl  a  cloud  in  the  embrace,  often  a  ferpent  full   of 

deadly 


i68  Hijlory  of  Ruth.  Lect.  XIH. 

deadly  poifon  in  the  bofom.  The  very  delays  which 
Providence  interpofes,  the  facrifices  which  a  fenle  of 
duty  offers  up,  the  mortifications  to  which  confcience 
fubmits,  enhance  the  value,  and  heighten  4:he  relifh  of 
our  lawful  comforts. 

Let  us  apply  this  obfervation  to  the  three  leading 
perfonages  in  this  interefting  tale.     Naomi  fits   down, 
and  thus  meditates  with  herfelf.     "  With  Vv'hat  fair 
profpe£ts  did  I  begin  the  world;  the  wife  of  a  prince,  a 
mother  in  Ifrael,  among  the  firft  in  rank,  in  wealth,  in 
expectation.     But  how  early  were  my  profpeds  cloud- 
ed !  Driven  by  famine  from  the  land  of  promife,  reduc- 
ed to  feek  fhelter  and  fubfiltence  among  flrangers,  but 
fupported  and  refrefhed  by  the  company  and   tender- 
nefs  of  the  hufband  of  my  tender  years,  and  the  pref- 
ence  and  improvement  of  my  children  :  finding  a  new 
home  in  the  land  of  Moab,   my  family   refpedted  in  a 
foreign  country,  reputably  allied,  comfortably  fettled. 
But  the  cup  of  profperity  again  dafhed  from  my  hand ; 
hufband  and  fons,  the  dcfire  of  my  eyes,  taken  away  with 
afiroke  ;  Canaan  and  Moab,  rendered  equally  a  place 
of  exile,  robbed  of  that  which  rendered  all   places   a 
home,  all   fituations   a  pleafure  ;   deferted   of   all  but 
Heaven,  and  a  good  young  woman,  once  the  partner 
of  my  joys,  now  my  fifler  in  afRidion  :  fleeing   back 
for  the  relief  of  my  anguifli  to  my  native  foil  and  city, 
and  mortified  at  finding  myfelf  there  more  a   flranger 
than  among  ahens  ;  providentially  raifed  into  notice 
a  id  confequence  again,   my  afTeftionate  daughter  no- 
bly allied,  the  name  of  Elimelech  about  to  be  revived, 
and  his   houfe  built  up  !  What  a  flrangely  chequered 
life  !  Naomi  and  Mara  in  perpetual  fuccellion!  But  ev- 
ery thing  is  ordered  wifely  and  well  of  Him  who  fees 
all  things  at  one  view;  the  latter  end  is  better  than  the 
beginning;  behold  good  arifmg  out  of  evil ;  the  defigns 
of  the  Mofl  High  haflening  to  their  accompHfhment. 
All  is  of  the  Lord  of  Hofts,  who  is  wonderful  in  counfel^ 
and  excellent  in  working.** 

The 


Lect.  XIII.  Hl/lory  of  Ruth.  169 

The  reflections  of  the  Moabitefs  may  be  fuppofed  to 
run  in  this  channel.  "  What  a  blefling  for  me  that  I 
ever  became  united  to  an  Ifraelitifli  family,  whatever 
pangs  it  may  other  ways  have  coft  me  !  But  for  this  I 
fliould  have  been,  like  my  fathers,  a  worfliipper  of 
flocks  and  ftones,  the  work  of  men's  hands  ;  a  flranger 
to  rational  piety,  to  inward  peace  !  Happy  lofs,  v/hich 
procured  for  me  this  unfpeakably  great  gain  :  propi- 
tious poverty,  which  fent,  which  drove  me  out,  in  quell 
of  treafures  ineflimable  ;  bleifed  exile,  which  conduct- 
ed me  to  a  habitation  under  the  wings  of  the  Almigh- 
ty !  What  real  gain  is  true  godlinels  !  It  has  more  than 
the  promife,  it  has  the  enjoyment  of  the  life  that 
now  is.  Myfterious  Providence,  that  directed  my 
doubtful,  trembling  (teps  ^to  glean  in  that  field,  that 
has  in  a  few  fhort  weeks  made  fuch  a  change  in  my 
condition,  that  has  raifed  me  from  the  lowed,  meaneil", 
mod  forlorn  of  dependants,  to  the  higheft  date  of  af- 
fluence, eafe  and  refpeftability  ;  and  tranfplanted  me 
from  the  vad  howling  deferts  of  idolatry  and  ignorance, 
to  the  fair  and  fertile  regions  of  knowledge,  of  purity, 
of  hope  and  joy  !  To  comfort  and  maintain  a  mother 
like  Naomi,  to  find  fuch  a  friend  and  hufband  as  Bo- 
az  !  It  is  life  from  the  dead.  It  is  of  that  God  who 
has  taught  me  to  know,  and  to  choofe  him  as  my  God, 
and  who  will  never  fail  nor  forfake  them  who  put 
their  trud  in  him." 

Boaz  too  finds  his  fituation  greatly  improved,  re- 
joices  and  gives  God  thanks.  "  My  wealth  was  great, 
my  garners  full,  my  man  fervants  and  maidens  nu- 
merous, dutiful  and  affedlionate,  but  I  had  no  one  to 
Ihare  my  profperity  with  me,  I  was  folitary  in  the 
midd  of  a  multitude :  like  Adam  in  Paradife,  inca- 
pable of  enjoyment,  becaufe  deditute  of  a  companion, 
an  help-meet  for  me  ;  but  God  hath  provided  for  me 
a  virtuous  woman,  whofe  price  is  above  rubies.  My 
houfe  has  now  received  its  brighted  ornament,  my 
family  its  firmed  fupport,  my  edate  its  mod  prudent 
•and  faithful  difpenfer.     I  have  dons  my  duty.     I  have 

refpecled 


'lyo  Hi/lory  of  RufL  Lect.  Xrjl, 

refpefted  the  majefty  of  the  law.  I  have  followed 
where  Providence  led  the  way,  and  I  have  my  rewards 
in  the  peace  of  my  own  mind,  in  the  polfelFion  of  a 
wife  and  good  woman,  in  the  bleffing  of  that  God  who 
has  done  all  things  for  me,  and  who  docs  all  things 
wifely  and  well." 

Behold  a  match  formed  immediately  by  the  hand 
of  Providence,  through  the  happy  concurrence  of  lit- 
tle incidental  circumftances ;  a  match  built,  not  on 
the  brittle  foundation  of  fordid  intereft,  but  on  the 
folid  bafis  of  mutual  affedion,  of  generolity,  of  wif- 
dom,  of  religion  ;  a  match  pregnant  with  what  confe- 
quences  to  Bethlehem-Judah,  to  all  Ifrael,  to  the  hur 
man  race  ! 

From  this  advantage  of  ground,  how  p.leafant  it  is 
to  trace  the  fweetly  meandering  courfe  of  the  river  of 
prophecy  and  promife  united,  toward  the  vail,  the  im- 
meafurable  ocean  of  accomplifliment.  Now  the  tribe 
of  Judah  is  rifmg  into  confequence,  now  the  royal 
fceptre  is  ready  to  be  put  into  his  hand,  never  to  de- 
part thence  "  till  Shiloh  come,  of  the  increafe  of 
w^hofe  government  and  peace  there  fliall  be  no  end  : 
to  whom  the  gathering  of  the  people  fhall  be.'*  Now 
the  ftar  of  Jacob  begins  to  appear.  Now  the  "  ten- 
der plant'*  begins  to  rear  its  head,  and  the  "  root  out 
of  the  dry  ground  to  fpring  up  ;  it  buds  and  bloflbms 
as  the  rofe,  and  its  fmell  is  as  the  fmell  of  Leba- 
non.'* 

But  what  eye  can  difcover,  what  created  fpirit  take 
in  the  whole  extent  of  "  God's  purpofe  and  grace  giv- 
en in  Chrifl  Jefus  before  the  world  began,'*  and  ter- 
minating in  the  final  and  everlaPang  redemption  of  a 
loft  world,  through  faith  in  his  blood  ?  The  veil  of 
eternity  is  drawn  over  it ;  "  Eye  hath  not  feen,  nor 
ear  heard,  neither  have  entered  into  the  heart  of  man, 
the  things  which  God  hath  prepared  for  them  that 
love  him."  *  "  Beloved,  now  are  we  the  fons  of  God, 
and  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  fhall  be  :  but  we 

know 

*    I  Cor.  ii,  Q. 


Lect.XUI.  Hifiory  of  Ruth,  171 

know  that,  when  he  fhail  appear,  we  Ihall  be  like  him  j 
for  we  fhall  fee  him  as  he  is."* 

The  hiltory  of  Ruth,  will  be  brought  to  a  period 
next  Lord's  day. 

You  fee,  men  and  brethren,  the  object  which  is 
cloiely  kept  in  view,  through  every  era  of  time,  under 
aii  diipeniations,  and  by  whatever  inftruments.  The 
work  ot  Qod  cannot  itand  ftili,  his,  purpofe  cannot  be 
defvjated.  One  generation  of  men  goeth  and  another 
Cometh,  but  every  lucceeding  generation  contributes 
to  the  furtherance  of  his  defign  ;  and,  whether  know- 
ingly or  ignorantly,  voluntarily  or  reludantly,  all  ful- 
fil his  plealure. 

None  are  forfaken  of  Providence,  but  fuch  as  are 
falfe  to  themfelves,  and  till  we  have  done  what  is  in- 
cumbent upon  us,  we  have  neither  warrant  nor  en- 
couragement to  look  up  and  wifh,  to  expeft,  and 
pray. 

Nothing  is  difhonourable,  but  what  is  fmful :  pov- 
erty that  is  not  the  effeft  of  idlenefs,  prodigality  or 
vice,  has  nothing  (hameful  in  it ;  the  gleaner  behind 
the  reapers  may  be  as  truly  dignified  as  the  lord  of 
the  harveft.  Let  lordly  wealth  ceafe  from  pride,  and 
virtuous  obfcurity  and  indigence  from  dejedion  and 
de.pair. 

Waflie  not  time,  fpirits  and  thought  in  airy  fpecu- 
lation  about  imaginary  fituations,  but  try  to  make  the 
mofl  of  that  in  which  infinite  wifdom  has  feen  meet  to 
place  thee. 

Difdain  to  envy  any  one,  at  leaft  until  thou  hafl 
thoroughly  examined  into  the  eflate  of  him  whom  thou 
art  difpofed  to  envy. 

He  is  deflitute  of  the  happieft  preparation  for  the 
relifh  and  enjoyment  of  prosperity,  who  has  not  arriv- 
ed at  it  through  the  path  of  adverfity.  I'o  receive 
with  thankfulnefs,  to  enjoy  with  moderation,  to  refign 
with  cheerfulnefs,  to  endure  with  patience,  is  the  high- 
^11  pitch  of  human  virtue. 

Men 

*  I  John  iii.  2. 


t-ji  Hiflory  of  Ruth.  Lect.  XIIL 

Men  are  often  fulfilling  a  plan  of  Providence,  with- 
out intending,  or  even  being  confcious  of  it.  They 
are  afting  a  double  part  at  the  fame  inftant ;  the  one 
private  and  perfonal,  local  and  tranfitory,  the  other 
public,  comprehenfive  and  permanent :  they  may  be 
building  up  at  once  a  private  family,  and  the  church 
of  God,  carrying  on  and  maintaining  the  fucceffion  to 
an  inheritance,  to  a  throne,  and  mihiflering  to  the  ex- 
tenfion  and  progrefs  of  a  kingdom  Hvhich  fhall  never 
be  moved  or  fhaken. 

In  the  kingdom  of  nature,  there  is  high  and  low, 
mountain  and  valley,  famencfs  with  diverfity  :  in  the 
kingdom  of  Providence,  there  is  difference  of  rank  and 
ftation,  of  talent  and  accomplifhment,  of  fortune  and 
fuccefs,  but  a  mutual  and  neceflary  connexion  and  de- 
pendence. In  the  kingdom  of  grace,  there  is  diverfi- 
ty of  gifts  and  offices,  but  the  fame  Spirit ;  and  fo  in 
the  kingdom  of  glory,  different  degrees  of  luftre,  as 
ftars  differ  one  from  another,  but  one  univerfal  glory, 
of  which  all  the  redeemed  are  together  partakers,  all 
being  kings  and  priefls  unto  God.  Throughout  the 
whole,  there  is  a  gradation  which  at  once  pleafes  and 
confounds,  that  depreffes  and  exalts,  that  infpires  con- 
tentment and  teaches  to  afpire,  that  now  attra6ls  to 
the  pure  fountain  of  uncreated  light,  and  now  repels 
the  bold  inquirer  to  his  native  darknefs  and  diflance 
again. 

Is  it  pleafant  to  furvey  from  the  exceeding  high 
mountain,  where  the  chriflian  tabernacle  is  pitched, 
the  courfe  of  that  river  whofe  flreams  make  glad  the 
city  of  our  God  ?  What  will  it  be,  from  the  fumm.it  of 
yonder  eternal  hills^  to  contemplate  the  whole  extent 
of  Emanuel's  land,  "  watered  with  the  pure  river  of 
water  of  life ;"  to  mingle  with  the  nations  of  them 
that  are  faved,  as  they  expatiate  through  the  bUfsful 
groves,  planted  with  the  tree  of  life  :  to  converfe  with 
the  diftinguiflied  perfonages  who  fhine  on  this  hallow- 
ed page,  and  (hall  then  fhine  in  immortal  luftre  ;  to 
reap  with  Boaz  a  richer  harveft  than  ever  waved  on 

the 


Lect.  XIIL  Hijiory  of  Ruth.  173 

the  plains  of  Bethlehem-Judah ;  to  affifl  Naomi  in  raif- 
ing  her  triumphant  fong  of  praife  ;  and  to  rejoice  with 
Ruth,  and  with  one  another,  in  our  joint  reception  in- 
to God's  everlafting  kingdom,  in  our  common  admif- 
fion  into  "  the  general  aflembly  and  church  of  the  firft- 
born.**  Glorious  things  are  fpoken  of  thee,  O  city 
of  our  God.  We  have  heard  of  them  with  the  hear- 
ing of  the  ear,  may  our  eyes  be  blefled  with  the  fight 
of  them.  May  "  the  Lamb  who  is  in  the  midft  of  the 
throne  lead  us  to  living  fountains  of  waters,  and  God 
wipe  away  all  tears  from  our  eyes.'*  "  Amen.  Even 
fo,  come.  Lord  Jefus." 


Hiftory 


Hiilory  of  Ruth. 


LECTURE      XIV. 

RUTH    iv.    13 17. 

So  Boazjook  Riitb,  and /he  ivas  his  ivife :  and  when  he 
went  in  unto  her,  the  Lord  gave  her  conception,  and 
Jhe  bare  a  Jon.  And  the  women  /aid  unto  Nao?niy 
Bleffed  be  the  Lord,  which  hath  not  left  thee  this  day 
without  a  kinfman,  that  his  name  may  be  famous  in  If- 
rael.  And  he  fhall  be  unto  thee  a  rejtorer  of  thy  life, 
and  a  Jiourifher  of  thine  old  age.  For  thy  daughter-i7i- 
law,  which  loveth  thee,  which  is  better  to  thee  than 
fevenfons,  hath  borne  him.  And  Naomi  took  the  child^ 
and  laid  it  in  her  bofom,  and  became  nurfe  unto  it, 
A?id  the  zvonien  her  neighbours  gave  it  a  na?ne,  faying. 
There  is  afon  born  to  NaoJiii,  and  they  called  his  name 
Obed.     He  is  the  father  offeffe,  the  father  of  David, 

1  HERE  is  an  obvious  refemblance  between  the  gen- 
eral plan  of  the  divine  providence,  and  the  feparate 
and  detached  parts  of  it.  The  life  of  almoft  every 
good  man  exhibits  virtue  for  a  feafon  ftruggling  with 
difficulty,  overwhelmed  with  diftrefs,  but  emerging, 
rifmg,  triumphing  at  length.  Through  much  tribu- 
lation the  chriltian  mufl  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
God,  and  on  his  way  be  often  in  heavinefs  through 
manifold  temptations.  It  is  the  wife  ordinance  of  in- 
finite goodnefs.  Oppofnion  roufes,  calls  forth  the 
latent  powers  of  the  foul ;  iuccefs  is  heightened  by 

the 


Iect.  XIV.  Hiftory  of  Ruth.  175 

the  danger  to  which  we  were  expofed,  by  the  trouble 
which  it  cofl  us,  by  the  pains  we  took ;  antecedent 
labour  fweetens  reft.  Hence,  the  paflages  of  our  own 
lives  which  we  moft  fondly  recolleft  and  relate,  and 
thofe  in  the  lives  of  others  which  moft  deeply  engage 
and  intereft  us,  are  the  fcenes  of  depreffion,  mortifica- 
tion and  pain  through  which  we  have  palTed.  The 
perils  of  a  battle,  the  horrors  of  a  fliipwreck,  fo  dread- 
ful at  the  moment,  become  the  iource  of  iafting  joy^ 
when  the  tempeft  has  chafed  to  roar,  and  the  confufed 
noife  of  the  warrior  is  hufhed  into  filence. 

Fi6lion,  in  order  to  pleale,  is,  accordingly,  forced 
to  borrow  the  garb  of  truth.  The  hero's  iufferings, 
the  lover's  foHcitude  and  uncertainty,  the  parent's  an- 
gaifli,  the  patriot's  conflift,  are  the  lubjed  of  the  dra- 
ma. When  the  ftiip  has  reached  her  defired  haven, 
when  the  cloud  difperfes,  when  the  conteft  is  decided, 
the  curtain  muft  drop.  .  Periods  of  profperity  cannot 
be  the  theme  of  hiftory. 

The  vaft,  general  fyftem,  in  Hke  manner,  exhibits 
"  the  whole  creation  groaning  and  travailing  in  pain 
together  :"  intereft  clafliing  with  intereft,  fpirit  riling 
up  againit  fpirit,  one  purpofe  defeating  another,  uni- 
verfal  nature  apparently  on  the  verge  of  confufion  y 
chaos  and  ancient  night  threatening  to  refume  their 
empire :  but  v/ithout  knowledge,  defign  or  co-opera- 
tion, nay,  in  defiance  of  concert  and  co-operation,  the 
whole  is  making  a  regular,  fteady  progrefs  ;  the  mud= 
dy  Itream  is  working  itfelf  pure  ;  the  difcordant  mafs 
is  bound  as  in  chains  of  adamant,  the  wrath  of  man  is- 
praifing  God  ;  every  fucceeding  era  and  event  is  ex- 
plaining and  confirming  that  which  preceded  it ;  all- 
is  tending  towards  one  grand  confummation  which. 
jQiall  colledl,  adjuft,  unite  and  crown  the  fcattered 
parts,  and  dem.onftrate,  to  the  conviftion  of  every  in- 
telhgent  being,  that  all  was,  is,  and  ftiall  be  very  good. 

Finite  capacity   can  contemplate  and   comprehend 

but  a  few  fragments   at  moft :  and   fcripture  has  fur- 

nillred  us  with  a  moil   dehcioui;  one,  in  the  httle  hif- 

•  ■' '.  torv,. 


176  Hi/lory  of  Ruth.  Lect.  XIV. 

tory,  of  which  I  have  now  read  the  conclufion.^  The 
itory  of  Ruth  has  been  confidered,  by  every  reader  of 
taile,  as  a  perfed  model  in  that  fpecies  of  compofition. 
It  will  ftand  the  ted  of  the  moil  rigid  criticitm,  or 
rather,  is  calculated  to  give  inflruclion  and  law  to  crit- 
icifm.  With  your  patience  I  will  attempt  a  brief  an- 
alyfis  of  it. 

I  ft.  The  fuhje6t  is  great  and  important  beyond  all 
that  heathen  antiquity  prefents  :  the  foundation  and 
eflabhlhment  of  the  regal  dignity  in  the  houfe  of  Da- 
vid, the  type  and  anceitor  of  the  Melfiah.  An  event 
in  which  not  one  age,  one  nation,  one  interelt  is  con- 
cerned, but  the  whole  extent  of  time,  the  whole  hu- 
man race,  the  temporal,  the  fpiritual,  the  everlafting 
intertfts  of  mankind.  What  is  the  demohtion  of 
Troy,  or  the  fettlement  of  ^neas  in  Latium,  compar- 
ed to  this  ?  Paradife  Loji  itfelf  mull  give  place  to  this 
glorious  opening  of  Paradife  Regained. 

2d.  They/crj  is  perfe£l  and  complete  in  itfelf;  or, 
as  the  critic  would  fay,  has  a  beginning,  a  middle, 
and  an  end.  Elimelech  is  driven  by  famine  into  ban- 
iihment,  dies  in  the  land  of  Moab,  and  leaves  his  fam- 
ily in  diifrefs.  Here  the  aftion  commences.  Naomi 
and  Ruth,  united  by  propinquity,  by  affedlion  and  by 
liiftrefs,  are  induced  to  return  to  Bethlehem-judah, 
in  hope  ot  effeding  a  redemption  of  the  eftate  which 
had  belonged  to  the  family,  but  under  the  prelTure  of 
neceffity  had  been  alienated.  Their  reception,  de- 
portment, and  progrefs,  form  the  great  body  of  the 
piece.  The  marriage  of  Boaz  and  Ruth,  and  the 
birth  of  Obed  is  the  conclufion  of  it. 

3d.  The  conducl  of  the  plot  is  fnnple,  natural  and  eafy. 
No  extraneous  matter,  perfonage,  or  event  is  introduc- 
i;d,  from  tiril  to  lafl :  the  incidents  follow,  and  arife 
out  of  one  another,  without  force,  without  effort. 
No  extraordniLiry  agency  appears,  becaufe  none  is  re- 
quilite ;  tlie  ordinary  powers  of  nature,  and  the  ordi- 
nary courie  of  things,  are  adequate  to  -the  effed  in- 
ftnued  to   b,'  produced.     There  is  no  violent  or  fud- 

den 


L£cT»  XIV.  Kijiory  of  Ruth,  177 

den  tranfition,  but  a  calm,  rational,  progreflive  change 
from  deep  forrow  to  moderated  affliction,  to  compof- 
ed  refignation,  to  budding  hope,  to  dawning  profperi- 
ty,  to  folicitous  profecution,  to  partial  fuccefs,  to  final 
and  full  attainment. 

The  diicovery  of  Ruth,  of  her  charadler,  of  her  vir- 
tues, of  her  relation  to  Boaz,  is  in  the  fame  happy  flyle 
of  natural  fimplicity  and  eale.  On  her  part  we  fee  no 
indecent  eagernefs  to  bring  herfelf  forward,  no  clamo- 
rous publication  of  her  dillrefles  or  pretenfions,  no  af- 
feded  difguife  or  concealment  to  attrad  obfervation  or 
provoke  inquiry  :  on  his,  there  is  no  vehemence  of 
exclamation,  no  hadinefs  of  refolution  ;  but  in  both, 
the  calmnefs  of  good  minds,  the  fatisfadlion  which 
confcious  virtue  enjoys,  in  the  unexpedled  difcovery 
of  mutual  attradlions  and  kindred  worth.  The  fitua- 
tions  are  inte reding,  affeding,  governed  by  the  lav/s 
of  nature  and  probability,  and  confonant  to  every  day's 
experience. 

4th.  The  fenfiments  are  jufl,  arifing  out  of  the  fitua- 
tions,  adapted  to  the  characters,  guarded  equally  from 
apathy  and  violence.  The  pathetic  expoftulation  of 
Ruth  with  her  mother-in-law,  when  Ihe  propofed  a 
reparation,  is,  in  particular,  a  mafter-piece  of  native 
eloquence :  at  hearing  it,  the  heart  is  melted  into 
tendernefs,  the  tear  of  fympathy  ruflies  to  the  eye,  na- 
ture feels  and  acknowledges  the  triumph  of  virtue. 
The  fentiment  of  impaffioned  forrow  glows  with  equal 
vehemence  on  the  lips  of  Naomi,  and  excite  in  the 
bofom  of  fenfibility,  pity  mingled  with  refped.  In 
Boaz  we  praife  and  admire  unoftentatious  generofity, 
dignified  condefcenfion,  honefl:,  undifguifed  affec- 
tion, a  fenfe  of  impartial,  inflexible,  undeviating  juf- 
tice. 

5th.  The  characters  are  nicely  difcriminated,  bold- 
ly defigned,  and  uniformly  fupported.  The  grief  of 
Naomi  is  verbofe,  impetuous  and  penetrating  ;  that 
of  Ruth  calm,  filent,  melting,  modeft.  The  plans  of 
the  mother  are  iagacious,  comprehenfive  j  the  refult 
Vol.  VI.  M  of 


178  Billory  of  Ruth,  Lect.  XIV. 

of  refleftion,  of  experience  ;  they  indicate  fkill,  abili- 
ty, refolution,  perfeverance.  Thofe  of  the  daughter 
are  artlefs,  innocent ;  the  fuggeflion  of  the  moment, 
the  effufion  of  the  heart ;  indicate  candour,  fmcerity, 
confcious,  unblufhing,  unfufpecting  reditude. 

In  Boaz  the  ftruggle  between  inchnation,  propriety, 
prudence  and  juflice  is  happily  defigned,  and  forcibly 
executed :  it  is  a  painting  from  nature,  and  therefore 
cannot  fail  to  pleafe.  His  opennefs  and  fair  dealing 
alfo,  as  was  obferved  in  a  former  Ledure,  are  finely 
contrafted  with  the  felfiflinefs,  infmcerity  and  unftead- 
inefs  of  the  nearer  kinfman. 

The  character  of  the  fervant  who  was  over  the  reap- 
ers, though  we  have  but  a  flight  flvetch  of  it,  difcovers 
the  hand  of  a  mafler,  the  hand  of  truth  and  nature. 
We  fee  in  it,  the  beautiful  and  interefling  portrait  of 
imabaflied,  unafTumlng  inferiority,  of  authority  undif- 
figured  by  infolence  or  feverity,  the  happy  medium 
between  power  and  dependence,  the  link  in  the  fcale 
of  fociety  which  connedls  the  wealthy  lord  with  the 
honefl  labourer,  the  friend  and  companion  of  both. 

The  reft  of  the  characters  are  claflTed  in  groups,  but 
difcover  a  charafteriftic  and  decided  diftindion.  We 
have  the  Inquifitivenefs,  curiofity,  hard-heartednefs 
and  indifference  of  an  idle  provincial  town  ;  the  good- 
nature, hofpitality,  candour  and  cheerfulnefs  of  the 
country. 

The  compliments  of  congratulation  prefented  to 
Boaz,  on  his  marralge,  and  thofe  addreflTed  to  Naomi 
on  the  birth  of  her  grandfon,  clearly  evince  the  dif- 
ferent train  of  thought  and  feeling  which  dictated 
them,  and  mark  beyond  the  poffibllity  of  miftake  the 
fex  and  fentiment  of  the  addreflbrs.  In  a  word,  the 
ideas  expreffed  by  the  feveral  charaders  in  this  facred 
drama,  are  fo  peculiarly  their  own,  that  no  reader  of 
ordinary  difcernment  needs  to  be  told,  who  it  is  that 
fp'eaks :  the  fentiments  cannot  pofiibly  be  transferred 
from  one  to  another. 

6th.    The 


Lect.  XIV.  Hijiory  of  Ruth  179 

6th.  The  manners  are  delineated  with  the  fame  fe- 
licity of  pencil.  We  have  a  faithful  reprefentation  of 
thofe  that  are  permanent  and  founded  in  nature  :  and 
of  thofe  which  are  local  and  temporary.  When  I  ob- 
ferve  thefe  Bethlehemites  flocking  round  the  old  wom- 
an and  her  outlandifh  daughter,  plying  them  and  one 
another  with  quellions,  circulating  the  leer  and  the 
whifper,  I  could  fuppofe  mylelf  in  one  of  the  goffiping 
villages  \vhich  furround  this  metropolis,  whofe  in- 
habitants feed  on  rumour,  exercife  no  principle  but 
curiofity,  employ  no  member  but  the  tongue,  or  the 
feet,  in  hunting  after  materials  for  that  employment. 
In  the  innocent  feflivity,  the  uncomplaining  toil,  the 
contented  fimplicity,  the  unaffected  benevolence,  the 
unprofeffing  piety  of  that  field  of  reapers,  I  have  min- 
gled a  thoufand  and  a  thoufand  times.  It  was  the 
delight  of  childhood,  it  is  the  unpainful,  the  undeprefT- 
ing  retrofped:  of  age. 

We  have  a  reprefentation  equally  faithful  and  jufl 
of  cufloms  and  manners  which  are  local  and  tempora- 
ry ;  fome  of  which  excite  our  aflonifhment,  fome  fliock 
our  delicacy,  and  fome  provoke  our  mirth.  Such 
are  the  modes  of  courtfhip  here  defcribed,  the  tranf- 
fer  of  property,  the  forms  of  judicial  procedure,  the 
terms  of  famihar  addrefs  and  friendly  communication; 
and  the  like.  Thefe,  having  no  intrinfic  moral  excel- 
le.nce  or  turpitude,  are  the  objeft  of  neither  praife  nor 
cenfure.  To  trace  their  origin,  or  explain  their  na- 
ture and  defign,  may  be  an  innocent  amufement,  but 
it  were  unjuft  to  explode  them  as  abfurd,  or  to  run 
them  down  as  ridiculous.  The  antiquarian  will  re- 
vere them  for  their  age,  the  philofopher  will  invefti- 
gate  them  as  opening  a  new  path  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  human  heart,  the  philanthropift  will  deal  with 
them  gently,  becaufe  they  are  the  harmlefs  peculiari- 
ties of  his  fellow-creatures,  and  piety  will  refpeft  them' 
as  prefenting  another  view  of  the  endlefs  variety 
difcoverable  in  all  the  ways  and  works  of  the  great 
Creator.  * 

Ma  In 


I  So  Hi/iory  of  Ruth.  Lect.  XIV. 

In  the  permanent  manners  of  mankind  we  fee  the 
eternal  famenefs  of  the  human  mind,  which  no  change 
of  cHmate,  times,  government,  education  can  alter  5 
a  famenefs  as  difcernible  and  as  fixed  as  the  number 
of  eyes,  arms  and  fingers  peculiar  to  the  fpecies.  In 
thofe  which  are  local  and  tranfient,  we  behold  the  in- 
finite and  endlefs  variety  of  the  human  powers,  which 
no  [Lability  and  uniformity  of  law,  inftru^tion,  difci- 
pline,  intereft,  example,  can  arreft  and  fix ;  a  variety 
as  difcernible,  as  unileady,  as  unaccountable,  as  the 
different  fliades  of  complexion,  the  conformation  of 
feature,  the  meafurements  of  ftature,  the  fluduations 
of  thought.  Every  thing  fatisfies,  every  thing  con- 
founds. 

Once  more,  the  language  of  this  charming  little 
epic  hiftory  is  plain  and  perfpicuous,  elegant  yet  una- 
dorned, nervous  yet  chafte,  fimple  yet  not  mean  or  vul- 
gar. It  confifts  of  narration  and  dialogue,  the  former 
pofreiTirig  the  mofl  exquifite  degree  of  grace  and  eafe, 
the  latter  of  vivacity  and  force.  There  is  no  obfcuri- 
ty  of  idea,  no  redundancy  of  exprelnon,  no  appearance 
of  labour,  no  artful  polifli,  no  tinfel  of  words,  no 
difgufting  tedioufnefs,  no  affeded  concifenefs.  Like 
the  general  code  of  fcripture,  it  is  capable  of  neither 
increafe   nor  diminution,  without  fuftaining  an   in- 

But  the  lead  merit  of  the  piece  is  its  excellency  as 
a  compofition.  It  forms  a  mofl  material  member  of 
the  great  buildirg  of  God,  an  important  link  in  the 
chain  of  Providence,  an  interefling  and  inftruftive 
chapter  in  the  hiftory  of  redemption.  The  union  of 
Boaz  and  Ruth  can  never  lofe  its  influence,  never 
fpend  its  force.  When  nature  expires,  and  all  thefe 
things  are  diflblved,  the  offspring  of  that  pair  "  fhall 
ihine  as  the  brightnefs  of  the  firmament,  and  as  the 
liars  forever  and  ever.'*  From  that  root  behold  a 
branch  has  arifen,  to  which  "  the  nations  of  them  that 
are  faved'*  continually  refort,  under  whofe  fhadow 
they  repofe,  whofe  fruit  is  the  fource  and  fupport  of  a 

divine 


Lect.  XIV.  Hipry  of  Ruth.  \kx 

4ivlne  life,  whofe  "  leaves  are  for  the  healing  of  the 
-nations/*  Let  the  Jew  read  this  facred  page,  and  glo- 
ry in  his  anceftry  ;  let  the  fcholar  read  it,  and  improve 
his  taft^,  and  extend  his  knowledge ;  let  the  ruftic 
read  it,  and  prize  his  humble  purfuits  and  innocent 
delights ;  let  the  Tons  of  poverty  and  the  daughters  of 
affliction  read  it,  and  ceafe  from  defpair,  let  them 
learn  to  "  truft  in  the  Lord,  and  to  do  good  ;"  let  the 
chriflian  read  it,  and  "  hold  fall  the  beginning  of  his 
confidence,^'  and  "  rejoice  in  hope  cf  the  glory  of 
God." 

The  lafl  obvious  remark  on  the  hiftovy,  forry  I  am 
to  fay  it,  is  not  highly  honourable  to  human  nature. 
While  Naomi  was  poor,  and  friendlefs,  and  forlorn, 
ihe  met  with  little  fympathy,  with  little  countenance  ; 
fhe  was  permitted  to  depend  for  fubfiftence  on  the  mif- 
erable,  unprodudive  induflry  of  a  woman  weak  and 
"wretched  as  herfelf ;  but  no  fooner  is  flie  connefted 
with  "  a  mighty  man  of  wealth,"  become  a  mother 
to  Boaz,  than  the  whole  city  is  feeking  to  her  ;  her 
own  fex,  in  particular,  we  fee  entering  into  all  her 
feelings,  flattering  all  her  natural  propenfities,  accom- 
modating themfelves  to  her  httle  willies  and  defires, 
and  trying  to  compenfate  their  former  coldnefs  and 
negled:  by  every  art  of  attention,  officioufnefs  and 
zeal.  Bafe  fpirit !  bafe  world  !  Behold  kindnefs  preiT- 
ed  upon  a  man,  jufl  in  proportion  as  he  has  no  need 
of  it ;  behold  him  oppreifed  with  new  friends,  becaufe 
he  has  already  got  too  many,  careffed  by  tiiofe  who 
lately  knew  him  not,  praifed  and  flattered  to  his  face, 
by  the  very  tongues  v/hich  maHgned  and  cenfured 
him  in  his  abfence.  But  that  man  is  left  to  continue 
poor,  becaufe  he  is  poor.  He  finds  no  fupport  be- 
caufe he  wants  it,  he  (lands  unbefriended  becaufe  he 
has  no  friend.  Shame  on  the  fawning  fycophants 
that  only  flutter  about  in  fair  weather,  that  only  fre- 
quent the  manfions  of  the  rich  and  great,  that  turn 
with  the  tide,  that  can  defpife  ragged  poverty,  and  offer 
incenfe  to  ermined  villainy. 

Let 


iS2  Hijlory  of  Rufh.  Lect.  XIV. 

Let  us  turn  with  contempt  from  the  fight,  and  take 
a  laft  parting  look  of  one  of  the  worthieft,  beft,  hap- 
piefl:  of  human  beings — Naomi  nurfmg  and  cherifhing 
her  httle  grandfon  in  her  bofom.  If  there  be  bhfs  on 
earth,  fhe  now  enjoyed  it.  Her  honeft  fcheme  had 
fucceeded,  the  name  of  her  beloved  hufband  was  re- 
vived, and  his  houfe  begun  to  be  built  up  ;  her  ami- 
able and  beloved  daughter  was  nobly  rewarded  for 
her  tendernefs  and  attachment ;  the  inheritance  of 
Elimelech  is  redeemed,  and  reverted  to  its  proper 
channel ;  the  wifdom  and  goodnefs  of  Providence  are 
fully  juflified,  and  a  profpe^t  of  felicity  and  honour  is 
opened  which  knew  no  bounds.  The  miferies  of  a 
whole  life  are  done  away  in  one  hour,  converted  in- 
to blellings,  bleffings  heightened  and  improved  by  the 
memory  of  pafl  woes  ;  the  name  of  Mara  is  forever 
obliterated,  and  the  original,  the  fuitable,  the  pro- 
phetic name  of  Naomi  reftored  and  confirmed.  The 
fenfibilities  of  a  Grand-vaothGX  are  peculiarly  pure  and 
delicate  refpe£ting  infant  offspring.  All  good  women 
are  fond  of  children,  to  whomfoever  they  belong, 
how  much  more  of  their  own,  whom  they  bare  with 
forrow,  and  have  brought  up  with  folicitude :  but 
"  that  I  fhould  live  to  fee  my  child's  child,  my  being 
multiplied ;  dropping  into  the  grave,  yet  reviving 
in  that  infant.  I  feel  myfelf  immortal ;  this  babe  will 
live  to  put  his  hand  upon  my  eyes,  and  then  I  fhall 
not  feel  the  oppreffion  of  death  ;  if  he  furvive  I  can- 
not all  die."  "  Lord,  now  lettefi  thou  thy  fervant  de- 
part in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  feen  thy  falvation,'* 

The  Spirit  of  God  has  drawn  a  veil  over  the  feelings 
of  the  mother  herfelf,  and  the  expreflion  of  them, 
and  left  it  to  imagination  to  figure  the  felicity  of  Ruth 
the  widow  of  Mahlon,  the  daughter  of  Naomi,  the 
wife  of  Boaz,  the  mother  of  Obed,  in  furveying  the 
changes  of  her  life,  in  comparing  what  fhe  was  with 
what  fhe  is. 

— And  thus  have  we  finifhed  what  was  intended,  in 
difcourfing  on  the  book  of  Ruth.     We  have  confid- 

ered 


Lect.  XIV.  Hijiory  of  Ruth,.  183 

ered  it,  as  a  beautiful,  becaufe  natural  reprefentation 
of  human  life  ;  as  a  curious  and  interefting  detail  of 
important  fads ;  and  as  an  effential,  conftituent  part 
of  the  plan  of  redemption.  It  happily  connects  the 
hiftory  of  the  Ifraelitifh  judges  with  that  of  their 
kings,  and  is  obvioufly  blended  with  both  :  and  while 
it  demonftrates  the  care  of  Providence,  in  fulfilling  the 
promifes  made  to  Abraham,  the  friend  of  God,  in 
prolonging  his  race,  in  multiplying  his  feed,  in  mak- 
ing kings  to  arife  out  of  him,  it  unfolds  the  mere  en- 
larged and  comprehenfive  purpofe  of  the  Eternal 
Mind  5  it  points  diredly  forward  to  that  "  feed  in 
whom  all  the  families  of  the  earth  ihall  be  bleiTed  ;'* 
it  fliews  the  fubferviency  of  all  that  preceded,  to  the 
evangehcal  difpenfation ;  it  breathes  good  will  to 
men.  The  reception  of  Ruth,  a  Gentile,  within  the 
pale  of  the  church  of  the  living  God  ;  her  advance=- 
ment  to  honour,  her  participation  of  the  privileges  of 
a  mother  in  Ifrael,  are  a  happy  prefxguration  of  the 
admiiTion  of  the  whole  Gentile  world  within  the  bond 
of  God's  covenant.  We  fee  the  work  of  God  ftill 
going  forward  and  profpering  ;  the  work  of  mercy 
enlarging,  extending  its  fphere  ;  all  bending  forward 
to  that  grand  confummation,  when  "  Ifrael  too  fliall 
be  faved,"  and  the  ancient  people  of  God  brought 
into  a  communication  of  the  blefiirigs  of  the  gofpel, 
together  with  "  the  fulnefs  of  the  Gentile  nations ;" 
when  there  fhall  be  "  one  fhepherd  and  one  Iheep- 
fold  ;'*  when  Jew  and  Gentile  fhall  arife  together 
from  the  dead,  becaufe  "  Chrift  doth  give  them 
life." 

The  birth  of  Obed,  the  father  of  JefTe,  the  father 
of  David,  brings  the  hillory  of  the  world  down  to  the 
year  2697,  from  the  creation,  and  before  Chrift  1307, 
and  conducts  us  to  the  eve  of  the  eftablifhment  of 
kingly  power  in  Ifrael. 

How  many  generations  of  men  have  palTed  in  re- 
view before  us,  in  the  courfe  of  thefe  few  years  even- 
ing exercifes    from   Adam   down  to    Boaz !  What 

changes 


1 84  Uyiory  of  Ruth,  Lect.  XIV. 

changes  has  the  audience  undergone,  fince  firfl  it  col- 
lededin  this  view!  What  deep  and  affeding  changes 
will  a  few  more  feafons  produce  !  The  turning  of  the 
page  will  prefent  a  new  preacher,  new  hearers,  a  dif- 
ferent plan,  a  different  arrangement,  different  interefts, 
different  feelings.  The  feparation  of  this  night  may- 
be final  and  permanent.  We  bend  together,  gracious 
God,  with  wonder  and  gratitude  before  thy  throne. 
Spared  together  fo  many  years  longer,  *'  cumberers 
of  the  ground"  that  we  are ;  our  bodies  preferred  in 
health,  our  minds  in  tranquillity  :  bleffed  with  friend- 
ftiip,  bled  with  fufficiency,  blell  with  the  means  of 
improvement,  bled  with  hope  !  Ah,  we  are  unworthy 
of  the  leaft  of  thy  favours,  and  we  have  been  diRin- 
guifhed  by  the  choiceft  and  beft  !  Make  us  to  feel  thy 
goodnefs  and  our  own  unworthinefs  ;  help  us  to  live 
more  to  thy  glory.  As  our  intereft  in  the  world  di- 
minifhes,  as  years  increafe,  as  grey  hairs  multiply,  as 
friends  depart,  as  comforts  fail,  as  eternity  advances, 
let  our  faith  ftrengthen,  let  our  fpirits  rife  to  thee,  let 
ourprofpeds  brighten,  let  our  ardour  after  immortality 
kindle.  The  nearer  we  approach  to  thee,  let  our  re- 
femblance  to  thee  become  more  apparent ;  let  the  fpir- 
it  of  heaven,  the  fpirit  of  the  bleffed  Jefus,  be  imparted 
to  us,  that,  living  and  dying,  we  may  edify  the  world, 
be  a  bleffmg  to  all  conneded  with  us,  and  ftill  enjoy 
inward  peace.  And  as  we  feparate  from  time  to  time, 
may  it  be  in  the  fweet  expedation  of  meeting  together 
in  the  regions  of  everlafling  purity,  love  and  joy. 
"  The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  be  with  your 
fpiiits.     Amen." 


Hiffory 


Hillory    of    Hannah, 


THE    MOTHER    OF    3AMUEL. 


LECTURE       XV. 

I   SAMUEL  i.   I 8. 

Now  there  was  a  certain  man  of  Ramatha'mi'Zophim, 
of  Mount  Ephraim^  and  his  name  was  Elkanah,  the 
Jon  ofjtroham^  the/on  of  Elihu^  thefonof  Tohu,  the  fort 
of  Zuph^  an  Ephrathite,  And  he  had  two  wives  ;  the 
name  of  the  one  was  Hannah,  and  the  name  of  the  other 
Peninnah  :  and  Peninnah  had  children,  but  Hannah 
had  no  children.  And  this  man  went  up  out  of  his  city 
yearly,  to  worjhip  and  to  facrifice  unto  the  Lord  of  Hofis 
in  Shiloh.  And  the  two  fons  of  Eli,  Hophni  and 
Phinchas,  the  priejis  of  the  Lord,  tuere  there.  And 
when  the  time  was  that  Elkanah  offered,  he  gave  to 
Peninnah  his  wife,  and  to  all  her  fons  and  her  daugh- 
ters, portions.  But  unto  Hannah  he  gave  a  worthy 
portion  :  for  he  loved  Han?iah  ;  but  the  Lord  had  fhut 
up  her  womb.  And  her  adverfary  alfo  provoked  her 
fore,  for  to  make  her  fret,  hecaufe  the  Lord  had  fhut  up 
her  womb.  And  as  he  didfo  year  by  year,  when  foe 
ivent  up  to  the  houfe  of  the  Lord  ;  fojhe  provoked  her  ; 
therefore  fhe  wept  and  did  not  eat.  Then  faid  Elkanah 
her  hufband  to  her,  Hannah,  why  wcepcjl  thou  ?  And 
why  eateji  thou  not  ?  And  why  is  thy  heart  grieved  ? 
Am  not  I  better  to  thee  than  ten  fons  ? 

Similar 


i86  X  Hi/hry  of  Hannah,  Lect.  XV*- j 

DIMILAR  caufes  ever  have  produced,  and  ever  will 
produce  limilar  effects.  You  may  fhift  the  fcene 
from  one  age  and  country  to  another,  but  like  beings, 
the  fame  fpirit,  the  fame  palfions  and  purfuits  arife 
continually  to  view.  The  difference  between  period 
and  period,  nation  and  nation,  city  and  city,  man  and 
man,  connils  merely  in  a  few  arbitrary  culloms,  vari- 
ous forms  of  fpeech  and  modes  of  behaviour ;  but 
the  great  principles  of  human  nature,  the  great  mov-, 
ing  Iprings  of  human  actions  are  univerfal  and  inva- 
riable. What  then  is  fo  abfurd  as  to  tax  others  witl\ 
abfurdity,  only  becaufe  their  language,  manners  or 
prejudices  do  not  exactly  coincide  with  our  own  ? 

As  the  principles  of  our  nature,  fo  the  rules  of  the 
divine  government  are  limilar  and  uniform.  The 
views,  paffions  and  intereils  of  men  are  the  hinges  on 
which  the  mighty  engine  revolves.  Every  little  indi- 
vidual moves  and  acts  in  his  own  proper  fphere,  like 
the  flars  in  the  firmament  of  heaven,  but  all  move  and 
act  together  under  the  influence  of  one  great  com- 
manding power,  which  animates  and  directs  the  whole. 
Every  one  poffeffes,  and  feels,  and  exercifes  its  fepa- 
rate  intelligence,  and  all  are,  at  the  fame  tim^e,  check- 
ed, impelled,  fuftained  by  one  fupreme  Intelligence 
which  is  above  all,  through  all  and  in  all. 

The  julteft  and  moft  accurate,  the  moft  ufefu!  and 
inftructive  reprefentations  of  human  life  and  conduct 
are  to  be  found  in  this  divine  record.  The  actors  in 
this  facred  and  interefting  dram.a,  are  perfonages  of 
the  very  highelt  diftinclion,  patriarchs  and  prophets, 
legiflators  and  kings ;  but  we  are  never  permitted, 
for  a  fingle  moment,  to  forget,  that  they  are  alfo  men. 
In  their  form  and  features  we  behold  our  own  imase 
reflected.  In  the  emotions  by  which  they  were  agi- 
tated, in  the  objects  which  they  purfued,  we  recog- 
nize our  own  averfions  and  defires,  our  own  pur- 
fuits zxiCi  attainments,  our  own  mortifications  and  fuc- 
cefs. 

We 


Lect.  XV.  Hi/lory  of  Hannah,  187 

We  are  now  entering  on  the  hiflory  of  one  of  the 
greatefl  among  the  prophets,  and  that  hiflory  dehne- 
ated  by  his  own  pencil.  He  begins  it  with  a  delcrip- 
tion  of  his  father's  family,  previous  to  his  own  birth, 
and  a  faithful  reprefentation  of  the  different  charaders 
of  which  it  was  compofed.  And  this  will  furnifli  am- 
ple matter  for  the  prefent  Lecture. 

Elkanah,  the  father  of  Samuel,  from  the  genealog- 
ical deduftion  here  prefented,  was  a  Levite  of  the 
family  of  the  Kohathites,  and  is  denominated  a  man 
of  Ram.athaim-zophim,  of  Mount  Ephraim,  from  his. 
being  born  or  refiding  at  that  city. 
,  Men  of  eminence,  as  has  often  been  obferved,  con- 
fer celebrity  on  cities  and  countries  ;  but  poor  is  that 
merit  which  is  derived  from  no  other  fource  but  a 
man's  parentage,  or  the  place  of  his  birth.  The  Le- 
vitical  tribe  was  fcattered  over  the  whole  country,  and 
during  the  diforderly  times  which  fucceeded  the  death 
of  Jolhua,  their  refidence  and  their  fervices  feem  to 
have  been  regulated  by  no  certain  and  fixed  ffandard. 
His  anceflors  for  many  generations  are  mere  names 
in  the  hiftoric  page ;  fhadows  without  a  fubflance  ; 
and  he  himfelf  borrows  the  fame  and  luflre  in  which 
he  is  tranfmitted  to  us,  from  the  reputation,  ability  and 
dillinclion  of  his  nobler  fon  ;  whole  children,  in  their 
turn,  fmk  into  infamy,  and  thence  into  oblivion. 

The  firfl  article  in  Elkanah's  domeflic  economy 
'  prefented  to  our  confideration,  is  an  imputation  upon 
his  wifdom,  if  not  upon  his  piety.  "  He  had  two 
wives."  Pofj'^gamy,  or  a  plurality  of  wives,  was  a 
pradice  at  that  time  indeed  connived  at,  but  no 
where,  and  at  no  period,  fanclioned  by  a  law  :  a  prac- 
tice not  indeed  condemned  by  flatutes  and  punifh- 
ments,  but  fufficiently  condemned  by  effecls  and  con- 
fequences.  It  is  of  very  little  importance  to  inquire 
whether  it  be  forbidden,  if  it  can  be  proved  unreafon- 
able,  unwife,  inexpedient.  And  for  fuch  proof  we 
have  but  to  recur  to  the  don*eftic  hiflory  of  Abraham, 
©f  Jacob,  of  Elkanah,  and  of  every  family  in  which  it 

prevailed. 


1 88  Biftory  of  Hannah,  Lect.  XV. 

prevailed,  Hannah  was  probably  the  prior  wife,  and 
it  is  prefumable  that  the  difappointment  of  not  having 
children  by  her  fuggefted  the  hazardous  experiment 
of  a  double  marriage  ;  and  the  ifl'ue  demonftrated  that 
every  deviation  from  the  path  of  rectitude  leads  di- 
reftly  to  its  own  chaftifement. 

The  mortification  of  Hannah,  already  too  much  to 
bear,  is  grievouily  embittered  by  the  affumption  of  a 
rival  in  the  aifedf  ion  of  her  hufband,  and  becomes  in- 
tolerable by  the  fruitfulnefs  of  that  rival.  And  thus, 
by  one  ill-advifed  ftep,  all  the  parties  are  rendered  un- 
happy, and  that  without  any  high  degree  of  criminali- 
ty on  any  fide.  Elkanah's  peace  is  inceffantly  difturb- 
ed  by  the  mutual  jealoufy,  and  bitternefs,  and  ftrife 
of  thofe  conjoined,  who  feparately  might  have  con- 
tributed to  foothe  and  foften  the  cares  of  Hfe.  The 
pleafure  of  having  children  is  marred  and  impaired 
to  Peninnah,  by  the  ill-difguifed  partiaHty  of  the  father 
of  her  children,  to  another.  The  mifery  of  barren- 
nefs  is  dreadfully  aggravated  to  Hannah,  by  the  cruel 
mocking  and  taunts  of  her  mercilefs  adverfary.  And 
what  became  of  the  children  all  the  while  ?  Were  they 
likely  to  be  well  and  wifely  educated,  amidft  all  thefe 
domeflic  jarrings  ?  Hated  and  oppofed  by  more  than 
a  ftep-mother's  rancour,  fpoiled  by  the  over  indulgence 
of  maternal  tendernefs,  driving  to  compensate  that 
rancour  and  hatred;  fecretly  careffed,  openly  neg- 
leded  by  an  embarraifed  father,  who  was  now  afraid 
to  exprefs,  and  now  to  conceal  the  honed  emotions 
of  nature.  It  is  not  vice  only  that  deftroys  human 
comfort.  And  if  mere  imprudence  involves  a  man 
in  fo  many  difficulties  and  diftreffes,  how  dreadful 
muft  it  be  to  bear  continually  in  one's  bofom  the 
burning  coal  of  an  ill  confcience. 

Happily  for  Elkanah  and  his  houfe,  family  difcord 
did  not  extinguilh  family  religion  ;  he  went  up  regu- 
larly with  all  his  houfehold  to  worlhip  the  Lord  at  Shi- 
loh,  at  the  great  yearly  fedivals.  The  law  command- 
ed the  attendance  of  the  males  only,  on  fuch  occa- 

fions ; 


Lect.  XV*  tJiJlory  of  Hannah.  189 

fions  ;  but  whether  it  were  that  a  higher  fenfe  of  pie- 
ty induced  him  to  appear  before  Jehovah  rejoicing 
with  all  that  were  his,  or  whether  he  hoped  to  allay 
the  ferment  of  fierce  and  angry  fpirits,  in  the  foul- 
compofing  exercifes  of  devotion,  both  his  wives  at- 
tended him  to  the  fervice  of  the  fanftuary,  and  fat 
down  together  with  him  at  the  facrifice  of  peace-offer- 
ing. It  was  wifely  and  well  intended,  the  fire  of  ma- 
lignity fades  and  dies  in  prefence  of  the  pure  flame  of 
love  divine,  as  material  fire  is  abforbed  and  extinguifh- 
ed  when  expofed  to  the  rays  of  the  glorious  oib  of 
day.  It  was  well  intended,  had  he  not  reafon  to  hope 
that  Hannah  would  forget  her  mifery,  and  Peninnah 
her  pride  in  the  prefence  of  God  ;  that  the  pov/er  of 
religion,  and  the  profpefts  of  immortality  might  haply 
unite  thofe  whom  paffion  and  intereft  had  fever- 
ed. But  if  fuch  were  his  intention,  he  fucceed- 
ed  not.  And  that  he  fucceeded  not,  is  to  be 
imputed,  in  part,  to  his  own  weaknefs.  The  be- 
loved wife  muft  be  diftinguifhed  by  a  "  worthy  por- 
tion,'* and  to  render  it  more  infulting,  at  a  public  fef- 
tival,  and  before  envious,  watchful  eyes,  thofe  of  Pe- 
ninnah, and  her  fons  and  daughters.  Thus,  through 
fome  mixture  of  folly  in  ourfelves,  through  the  crafti- 
nefs  and  malignity  of  another,  or  through  fome  unto- 
wardnefs  of  arrangement,  over  which  we  had  no  pow- 
er, and  neither  could  forefee  nor  prevent,  the  bed 
defigns  mifcarry,  medicine  is  converted  into  poifon, 
and  religion  is  made  a  minifter  of  wrath  and  unrigh- 
teoufneis. 

Who  does  not  here  recollefta  certain  "  coat  of  ma- 
ny colours,"  which  cofl  fo  dear  to  him  who  gave,  and 
to  him  who  wore  it  ?  Who  is  not  warned  to  guard 
againft,  or  at  leafl  to  conceal  partial  affedions,  where 
claims  are  equal  ?  Who  does  not  feel  the  importance 
of  bringing  to  the  altar  of  God,  a  fpirit  elevated  above 
all  temporal  confiderations  ! 

Not  only  was  the  good-natured  intention  of  Elka- 
nah  fruftrated,  but  the  worfhip  of  God  was  profaned  ^ 

and 


190  Hiji or y  of  Hannah,  Leg T.  XV. 

and  wretched  indeed  muft  be  the  ftate  of  that  family, 
where  rehgion  not  only  fails  to  conciliate,  but  tends 
to  alienate,  irritate  and  inflame.  "Elkanah  loved 
Hannah,  but  the  Lord  had  fhut  up  her  womb.'*— 
The  abfence  of  one  defired  bleffing  renders  the  poiTef- 
fion  of  a  thoufand  others  taftelefs  and  infipid.  The 
moderating  hand  of  eternal  Providence  redtifies  the 
diforders,  and  countera6ls  the  violence,  of  human 
paffion  ;  preferves  the  balance  from  a  preponderancy 
too  great,  or  too  lading,  on  either  fide  ;  and  conduds 
all  to  the  happieft  iflue  at  length. 

But  an  evil  which  comes  immediately  from  heaven 
is  by  that  very  confideration  rendered  both  tolerable 
and  falutary.  The  Lord  can  do  nothing  but  what  is 
right  ;  in  wrath  he  remembers  love  ;  "  he  afHifts  not 
willingly  nor  grieves  the  children  of  men,  not  for  his 
pleafure,  but  their  profit.'*  But  alas,  there  was  min- 
gled in  Hannah's  cup,  an  ingredient  which  converted 
the  whole  into  wormwood  and  gall ;  "  her  adverfary 
alfo  provoked  her  fore  for  to  make  her  fret,  becaufe 
the  Lord  had  ihut  up  her  womb."  What  relifh  had 
now  the  double  portion,  though  the  token  of  a  fond 
hufband's  unabated  kindnefs  ?  The  infulting  words 
and  looks  of  her  pitilefs  "  adverfary'*  are  as  vinegar 
upon  nitre.  How  dreadful  to  have  a  calamity  which 
was  incelfantly,  though  fecretly  preying  upon  her  vi- 
tals, incelTantly  thrown  in  her  teeth  ;  home  rendered 
a  burthen  ;  the  place  of  facrifice,  a  habitation  of  dif- 
cord  ;  fire  fnatched  with  unhallowed  hands  from  the 
altar  of  Jehovah  to  kindle  the  gloomy  fire  of  hell ! 
There  needs  no  tormenting  fiend  to  afcend  from  the 
bottomlefs  pit,  armed  with  fcorpions,  to  plague  and 
torture  wretched  mortals ;  fee,  they  are  armed  like 
furies  one  againft  another,  they  exult  in  one  another's 
pain ;  relentlefs,  remorfelefs,  they  "  fay  not  it  is 
enough." 

Dreadful  to  think,  this  angry  vengeful  fpirit  con- 
tinxied  to  agitate  and  torment  thefe  unhappy  women 
for  many  years  together  j  and  what  is  hell,  but  a  (late 

of 


Lect.  XV.  Hijiory  of  Hannah,  191 

of  unabating,  growing  animofity  and  hatred  ?  "  As 
he  went  up  year  by  year,  when  ilie  went  up  to  the 
houfe  of  the  Lord,  io  Ihe  provoked  her."  In  fe- 
male bofoms  can  fuch  mahgnity  dwell  ?  Ah,  what  fo 
bad  as  the  good  corrupted,  perverted  !  Behold  a  ran- 
cour which  no  time  could  enfeeble,  no  fenfe  of  fliame 
reftrain,  and  which  the  facrednefs  of  the  fanduary 
ferved  only  to  embitter  and  inflame !  Can  it  be  polli- 
ble,  merciful  Father,  can  it  be  poffible,  that  fuch  a 
fell  fpirit  fhould  ever  have  accompanied  any  of  us  to 
thy  houfe  of  prayer  ?  Can  "  the  fame  tongue  utter 
bleffmg  and  curfmg  ?'*  Dare  we  fay  "  we  love  God, 
whom  we  have  not  feen,  while  we  hate"  or  defpife  "  a 
brother"  a  filler  "  whom  we  have  feen  ?"  "  Search 
me,  O  God,  and  know  my  heart :  try  me,  and  know 
my  thoughts :  and  fee  if  there  be  any  wicked  way  in 
me,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  everlafting."* 

It  is  greatly  to  the  honour  of  Hannah,  that  all  this 
cruel  and  infulting  treatment  drev/  from  her  no  in- 
decent return.  Though  grieved  in  fpirit,  provoked, 
fretted  beyond  all  enduring,  we  hear  of  no  furious 
appeal  to  the  partial  tendernefs  of  her  hufband,  no 
raihng  for  railing,  no  rafli  malediction,  no  furious 
threatening  of  revenge.  It  is  not  eafy  to  govern  the 
fpirit ;  it  is  not  always  poffible  to  command  the  tem- 
per under  offence  and  infult ;  but  the  tongue  is  in 
every  one's  power,  improper  words  admit  of  no  de- 
fence, and  rage  is  but  a  poor  apology  for  abufe  and 
blafphemy.  But  fhe  pines  away  in  filent  forrow. 
"  She  wept,  and  did  not  eat."  Thefe  feafons  of  re- 
joicing before  the  Lord,  thefe  times  of  refrefhing  to 
every  other  daughter  of  Ifrael,  were  to  her  days  of 
heavinefs  and  woe.  What  fignifies  a  large  portion  to 
one  who  has  no  appetite  ?  What  is  the  profperity  of 
her  people,  to  one,  who,  Hke  a  dried  branch,  is  cut  off 
from  all  intereft  in  pofterity,  who  fees  the  name  and 
honours  of  her  beloved  hufband  paffing  away  to  the 
children  of  another,  the  children  of  one  who  hated 

her? 
*  Pfalm  cxxxix.  23,  24. 


icf^  iiijlory  of  Hannah i  Lect.  XV* 

her  ?  Alas,  the  fpirit  of  devotion  itfelf  is  checked  and 
reprefled  by  the  inceffant,  unrelenting  iHngs  of  envy 
and  jealouly  ;  life  is  become  a  burden  to  her. 

The  deep  afHiclion  with  which  Ihe  was  overwhelmed 
could  not  efcape  the  attentive  eyes  of  Elkanah. 
Though  her  tongue  faid  nothing,  her  eyes,  her  tears, 
her  dejeftion,  her  abftinence,  her  fighs  betrayed  abun- 
dantly the  anguifh  of  her  foul.  "  Then  faid  Elkanah 
her  hufband  to  her,  Hannah  why  weepcft  thou,  and 
why  eatefl  thou  not,  and  why  is  thy  heart  grieved  ? 
Am  not  I  better  to  thee  than  ten  fons  ?"  To  what  dif- 
trefs  has  the  good  man  reduced  himfelf  ?  Now  he 
feverely  feels  the  effeft  of  his  own  imprudence,  and 
laments  his  having  tried  the  dangerous  experiment, 
■which  robbed  him  of  all  domeftic  quiet,  difturbed 
the  fellivity  of  the  folemn  rendezvous  at  Shiloh,  and 
threatened  to  produce  one  day  fome  tragical  event  in 
his  family. 

Sympathy,  if  it  does  not  wholly  difpel  oni*  miferies, 
pours  at  leaft  a  temporary  balm  into  the  wound,  and 
"  foothes  pain  for  a  while."  Hannah  becomes  com- 
pofed,  and  the  feaft  is  concluded-  There  is  ftill  one 
refuge  left  for  the  miferable,  one  remedy  againfl:  def- 
pair,  one  friend  able  and  ready  to  help  in  every  time 
of  trouble ;  and  our  eyes  with  complacency  follow 
the  mourner,  not  into  her  fecret  retirement,  to  fpend 
her  forrow  in  unavailing  tears,  or  to  curfe  the  day  in 
which  Ihe  was  born  ;  not  into  the  round  of  giddy  dif- 
fipation,  to  drown  reflection  and  anxiety,  in  the  poi- 
foned  chaHce  of  intemperate  mirth  and  jollity  ;  but  to 
the  place  of  prayer,  but  to  the  door  of  mercy,  but  to 
the  dawn  of  hope. 

We  fhall  prefently  find,  that  what  related  to  the 
externals  of  God's  worlhip  was  at  that  time  but  badly 
conducted  in  Ifrael,  the  "  fons  of  Eli  were  fons  of 
Behal,'*  they  "  knew  not  the  Lord."  But  be  the 
minifter  who  he  will,  the  word  and  fervice  of  God 
cannot  be  rendered  of  none  effed.  Not  only  the 
fpirit  of  piety,  but  a  fenfe  of  common  decency  was 

now 


Lect.  XV*  Uljiory  of  Hannah.  193 

now  loft  in  the  Levitical  priefthood :  when  it  pleafed 
God  to  make  this  very  afflifted  woman,  the  means  in 
his  hand,  to  reftore  the  dignity,  purity  and  importance 
of  the  facred  fundlion,  to  revive  the  decayed  interelts 
of  rehgion,  and  to  bring  forward  the  great  events 
which  are  fo  intimately  connetled  with  the  things 
which  belong  to  our  everlafting  peace. 

When  we  look  into  human  life,  whether  as  exhibit- 
ed on  the  hallowed  page  of  infpiration,  or  by  our  own 
obfervation  and  experience,  we  (hall  find  that  moft  of 
the  "  ills  which  fleih  is  heir  to'*  may  eafily  be  traced 
up  to  fome  imprudence,  heedlefsnefs,  or  tranfgreffion 
of  the  man  himfelf,  who,  before  he  was  aware,  found 
himfelf  involved  in  difficulties  and  diftrelTes  the  native 
efFeds  of  his  own  mifconduft,  but  which  he  forefaw 
not,  apprehended  not,  and  which  he  never  couid  in- 
tend. I  know  how  poor  a  confolation  it  is,  to  tell  a 
man,  "  you  have  nobody  but  yourfelf  to  blame,**  and 
to  upbraid  him  with  the  warning  which  you  gave  him, 
and  he  would  not  take  ;  but  it  is  not,  for  that,  ufelefs 
for  one  to  difcover  the  fource,  caufe  and  progrefs  of 
his  calamity.  The  cafe  muft  be  bad  indeed,  or  his 
eyes  muft  have  been  opened  very  late,  or  his  "  heart 
hardened  through  the  deceitfulnefs  of  fin,'*  if  he 
cannot  turn  to  fome  good  account  the  refle£lions  of 
maturer  judgment,  the  admonitions  and  chaftifement 
of  experience,  the  pain  and  remorfe  of  an  ///  con- 
fcience,  or  the  miftakes  and  wanderings  of  a  good  one. 

— There  are  fteps  in  condu6t  which  are  irretrieve- 
able,  and  therefore  ought  not  to  be  tampered  with. 
The  exceflive  ufe  of  the  moft  wholefome  food,  will 
at  length  overwhelm  the  ftrongeft  conftitution  ;  the 
occafional  application  of  what  is  doubtful  or  unwhole- 
fome  may  undermine  or  wafte  it,  but  poifon  is  certain 
death  ;  and  the  fagacity  of  a  brute,  the  underftanding 
of  a  child,  is  fufficient  to  diftinguifti  between  poifon 
and  food,  perhaps  not  between  poifon  and  medicine. 

— To  how  many  gracious,  focial,  civil  and  moral 
purpofes,  may  not  the  wife  and  proper  ufe  of  religious- 
Vol.  VI.  N  fervices- 


194  ^'iflory  of  Hdtinah*  Lect.  XV* 

i'ervices  be  applied  ?  The  man  who  has  performed  with 
undcrflandiiig  and  feeling  the  devotions  of  the  clofet^  will 
iffue  from  it  in  a  higher  (late  of  preparation  for  every 
duty  of  life.  Filled  with  veneration  for  his  heavenly 
Father,  "  who  feeth,"  and  with  whom  he  has  been  con- 
verfing  "  in  fecret,"  he  breathes  good  will  to  man. 
The  emotions  of  every  unkind,  ungentle,  unjufl;  affec- 
tion are  ftifled,  extinguilhed,  forgotten.  The  princi- 
ples of  benevolence  and  benignity  have  acquired  new 
life  and  energy,.  He  is  difpofed  to  meet  the  ills  of  life 
with  more  firmnefs  and  fortitude,  and  to  enjoy  its  blelT- 
ings  with  a  more  exquifite  relifli.  Hannah  havings 
poured  out  her  foul  to  God,  "  went  her  way,  and  did 
eat,  and  her  countenance  was  no  more  fad."  The  de- 
votion of  the  morning  will  prove  the  belt  alTiftant  to- 
ward conducting  the  bufinefs  of  the  coming  day  ;  and 
that  of  the  evening,  the  happieft  review  and  improve- 
ment of  the  palt.  From  him  who  habitually  begins 
and  ends  every  thing  with  God,  you  may  reafonably 
exped,  the  fruits  of  a  good  and  honed  heart,  "  fpeech 
alway  with  grace,  fealbned  with  falt^**  and  order  in 
conduct,  more  than  from  other  men  :  more  works  of 
mercy,  more  fair  dealing,  more  fteadinefs  in  friend- 
fhip  :  and  lefs  of  the  rancour  of  oppofition,  lefs  of 
the  felf-fufficiency  of  pride,  lefs  of  the  m.alignity  of 
envy  ;  for  the  love  of  God  abforbs  all  thefe  baleful^ 
malignant  fires. 

The  devotions  of  the  family^  in  like  manner,  produce 
the  happieft  effeds  within  that  fphere.  How  foothing, 
how  cementing,  how  conciliating  they  are  !  Does  com- 
mon calamity  prefs  ?  It  is  alleviated,  it  is  fandtified,  it 
is  done  away,  Vvhen  the  "  care  is  caft  upon  God,'*  when 
the  burthen  is  transferred  to  a  Father  in  heaven,  who 
ftands  engaged  to  remove  it,  or  to  render  it  a  bleifing. . 
Is  domeftic  profperity  abounding,  increafmg  ?  What 
an  additional  luftre,  value,  fweetnefs  does  it  derive 
from  union,  from  piety,  from  a  common  fenfe  of  obli- 
gation and  dependence  ?  Have  offences  come  ?  Has 
peace  been  dillurbed  ?  Are  the  bonds  which  united 

hulband 


Lect.  XV.  Hi/iory  of  Hannah.  195 

hufband  and  wife,  parent  and  child,  brother  and  broth- 
er, mafter  and  fervant,  unhappily  broken  ?  The  mo- 
ment that  the  heahng  addrefs,  "  Our  Father  who  art 
in  heaven,'*  reaches  the  ear,  every  foul  is  peace,  the 
fpirit  of  love  pervades  the  whole,  and  the  voice  of 
difcord  is  heard  no  more.  When  pardon  is  implor- 
ed from  him  whom  all  have  offended,  the  ftony  heart 
relents,  melts,  forgives,  for  he  needs  to  be  forgiven. 

The  influence  of  public  ivorjhip  likewife,  where  it 
has  not  degenerated  into  mere  form,  is  the  ftrongefl 
cement  of  fociety.  It  ferves  to  confolidate  men  of  va- 
rious ranks  and  conditions,  with  their  feveral  talents 
and  abilities,  into  one  compa6t,  efficient,  well-organ- 
ized body,  ready  to  aft  with  one  heart  and  one  foul,  in 
the  caufe  of  God  and  their  country.  Little  fhades  of 
difference,  in  men  truly  good,  will  unite  inftead  of 
disjoining.  Our  great  national  affemblies  are  obliged, 
by  law,  to  open  their  fittings  for  public  bufinefs,  by 
adts  of  public  devotion.  The  reafon  and  intention  of 
the  law,  and  of  the  practice  founded  upon  it,  are 
abundantly  obvious.  If  the  effedt  does  not  follow  to 
the  extent  that  might  be  wifhed — it  muff  be  conclud- 
ed, that  the  devotional  part  of  the  fitting  is  negleded  ; 
that  formality  has  extinguifhed  the  flame  ;  or  that 
difference  of  religious  fentiment,  or  what  is  fliill  worfe, 
indifference  to  all  religion,  mar  and  weaken,  and  dif- 
traft  the  whole.  The  prevalency  of  a  worldly  fpirit 
mufl:  at  length  prove  fatal  to  piety,  and  when  piety  is 
gone,  public  fpirit  is  on  the  decline,  and  will  not  long 
furvive. 

— But  we  have  in  the  hifl:ory  under  review,  a  melan- 
choly infl:ance  of  what  frequently  happens  to  this  day, 
and  under  a  happier  difpenfation  of  religion — feafons 
and  places  of  devotion  perverted  into  the  inflruments 
of  kindling  and  excrcifing  the  ungracious,  the  unfo- 
cial,  the  unkind  affedions.  How  often  is  the  fandtua- 
ry  of  God  profaned,  by  being  made  the  fcene  of  dif- 
playing  the  rivalfliip  of  beauty,  drefs,  equipage,  rank 
and  affluence  ?  The  humbling  fervices  of  the  meek 
N  2  and 


196  Hijiory  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XVI 

and  lowly  Jefus,  are  unnaturally  forced  into  the  min- 
ifters  of  pride  and  vain-glory.  The  tranquillity  of  the 
day  of  facred  reft,  and  its  gentle,  peaceful  employments, 
give  a  birth,  vi^hich  they  deleft  and  difclaim,  to  the 
whifper  of  envy,  and  the  noife  of  llander.  The  feaft 
of  love  is  difturbed,  the  facrifice  of  peace  is  defiled  by 
the  impure  claws  of  harpies ;  and  "  the  houfe  of  prayer 
is  turned  into  a  den  of  thieves/*  "  Surely,  my  belov- 
ed brethren,  thefe  things  ought  not  fo  to  be.'* 

— Happily  for  us,  the  influence  of  the  gofpel,  and 
the  laws  of  our  country,  and  the  fpirit  of  the  times, 
prevent  the  practice  which  threw  Elkan^h's  family  in- 
to fuch  a  flame;  and  which,  whereever  it  has  prevailed, 
has  been  produdive  of  confufion  and  every  evil  work. 
May  a  purer  religion,  and  wifer  inftitutions,  and  a 
more  enlightened  fpirit  produce  a  more  perfect  morali- 
ty, promote  domeftic  happinefs,  and  extend  and  fecure 
national  profperity. 

We  now  proceed  farther  to  unfold,  from  the  facred 
.,  'liiftory,  the  charafter  and  condud:  of  Hannah  ;  earn- 
eftly  praying,  that  with  "  all"  the  reft  of  "  fcripture,*' 
which  "  is  given  by  infpiration  of  God,"  it  may  prove 
profitable  for  doftrine,  and  for  reproof,  and  for  cor- 
redion,  and  for  inftrudion  in  righteoufnefs/* 


Hiftory 


Hiftory  of  Hannah, 


JHE    MOTHER    OF    SAMUE.L- 


'LECTURE      XVI. 

,1   SAMUEL    i.    9 18. 

So  Hannah  rofe  up  after  they  had  eaten  in  Shiloh^  and  af- 
ter they  had  drank.  Now  Eli  the  prieftfat  upon  a  feat 
by  a  pofi  of  the  temple  of  the  Lord.  And fhe  was  in 
■hitter  nefs  of  foul  ^  and  prayed  unto  the  Lord,  and  wept 
fore.  And  fhe  -vowed  a  -vow,  and  faid,  0  Lord  of 
htfis,  if  thou  wilt  indeed  look  on  the  affiiclion  of  thine 
handmaid,  and  remember  me,  and  not  forget  thine  hand-- 
.maid,  but  wilt  give  unto  thine  handmaid  a  man-child, 
then  I-  will  give  him  unto  the  Lord  all  the  days  (f  his 
life,  and  there  fhall  no  razor  come  upon  his  head.  Arid 
it  came  topafs  as  fhe  continued  praying  before  the  Lord, 
that  Eli  marked  her  mouth.  Now  Hannah,  fhe  f pake 
in  her  heart,  only  her  lips  moved,  but  her  voice  was  not 
heard :  therefore  Eli  thought  fhe  had  been  drunken. 
And  Eli  f aid  unto  her.  How  long  wilt  thou  be  drunken  ? 
put  away  thy  wine  from  thee.  And  Hannah  anfwered 
and f aid.  No,  my  Lord,  lam  a  woman  of  a  forrowfid 
fpirit :  I  have  drank  neither  wine  nor  firong  drink,  but 
have  poured  out  my  foul  before  the  Lord.  Count  not 
thine  handmaid  for  a  daughter  of  Belial :  for  out  of 
the  abundance  of  my  complaint  and  grief  have  I  fpoken 
hitherto.  Then  Eli  anfwered  and  faid.  Go  in  peace  : 
,and  the  God  of  Ifrael grant  thee  thy  petition  that  thou 

hafi 


19^  Hifiory  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XVI. 

haji  ajkea  of  him.     And  foe  faid.  Let  thine  handmaid 
find  grace  in  thy  fight.     So  the  ivoman  went  her  ivajy 
and  did  eat,  and  her  countenance  was  no  more  fad. 

X  HE  fupport  and  the  confolations  adminiftered  by 
religion,  are  adapted  to  the  nature  and  neceffities  of 
man.  The  exercifes  "which  it  prefcribes  arife  out  of 
the  circumftances  and  events  of  human  Hfe  ;  and  the 
being  and  perfeclions  of  God  prefent  themfelves  to  us 
according  as  we  pafs  from  one  condition  to  another. 
There  are  comforts  which  no  one  but  God  could  have 
beftowed  :  there  is  wretchednefs  which  God  only  can 
reUeve.  Hence  the  foul  rifes  diredtly  to  the  Giver  of 
all  good  in  transports  of  gratitude,  and  cleaves  to  him 
■when  every  other  refuge  fails.  Hence,  all  that  is 
known  by  the  name  of  prayer,  is  at  once  the  voice  of 
nature,  the  refult  of  reafon,  and  a  diftate  of  religion. 
What  is  the  confeffion  of  the  penitent,  but  the  trem- 
bling hope  of  a  guilty  creature  toward  the  God  of 
mercy,  fleeing  from  the  judgment  of  unrelenting,  un- 
ibrgiving  man  ;  from  the  perfecution  of  an  awakened, 
an  accufmg  confcience,  to  a  proclamation  of  peace  and 
pardon  from  heaven  ?  What  is  the  refignation  of  the 
patient,  but  a  devout  acknowledgment  of  unerring 
wifdom,  which  does  all  things  well,  and  afflids  in  lov- 
jng-kindnefs  ?  What  is  the  cry  of  diftrefs,  but  an  ap- 
peal to  omnipotence  for  that  affiftance  which  the  pow- 
ers of  nature  cannot  bellow  ?  What  is  adoration,  but 
the  faculties  of  an  intelligent  being  loft  in  the  con- 
templation of  infinite  perfedion  ?  Even  the  ralh  and 
impious  appeals  to  Heaven,  which  are  uttered  by  the 
thoughtlefs  and  profane,  demonftrate,  that  piety  and 
prayer  are  founded  in  the  very  conftitution  of  our  na- 
ture. Why  does  that  blafphemer  take  the  name  of 
the  Lord  God  in  vain  ?  why  fwears  he  by  the  great 
and  terrible  name  of  Jehovah  ?  why  is  his  imprecation 
fanclioned  by  that  tremendous  fignature  ?  why  are  the 
emotions  of  anger,  of  pain,  of  furprife,  of  joy,  enforc- 
ed by  the  names  and  attributes  of  Deity  ?  The  wretch 

who 


'JLect*  XVI,  Hijlcry  of  Hannah,  6*99 

H^ho  thus  tramples  on  his  law,  infults  his  authority, 
defies  his  power,  is  in  thefe  very  a£ls  of  horror  paying 
an  involuntary  homage  to  the  God  of  truth  and  juf- 
tice,  and  obhquely  confelTes  that  divine  perfeftion 
which  he  has  the  boldnefs  to  violate. 

We  turn  from  the  dreadful  practice  with  holy  in- 
dignation, to  contemplate  the  defponding  mourner 
fleeing  for  reft  andrehef  in  the  bofom  of  a  Father  and 
a  God  ;  and  to  learn  lefTons  of  piety,  and  derive  nour- 
•ifhment  to  hope,  from  the  experience  of  others. 

We  have  feen  the  diforder  of  a  family  in  Ifrael  oc- 
cafioned  by  the  foolifiinefs  of  man ;  we  are  now  to 
-confider  that  diforder  redified,  and  turned  into  a 
fource  of  domeftic  joy  and  public  felicity  through  the 
wifdom  and  goodnefs  of  God,  The  fokmnity  of  the 
yearly  facrifice,  and  the  cheerfulnefs  of  the  feaft,  had 
been  continually  embittered  and  deftroyed  to  Hannah 
by  refledion  on  her  ftate  of  approach  among  the  daugh- 
ters of  Ifrael,  and  the  mercilefs  infults  of  her  rival  and 
adverfary.  The  kind  attentions,  and  affedlionate  re- 
monftrances  of  a  beloved  huiband,  foothe  for  a  mo- 
ment, but  cannot  remove  the  anguilh  that  preyed 
upon  heart.  She  looks  with  impatience  through  the 
tedioufnefs  of  the  ent-ertainment,  to  the  hour  of  re- 
tirement ;  and,  as  foon  as  decency  permits,  fhe  ex- 
changes the  houfe  of  mirth  for  the  houfe  of  prayer. 

*'  If  any  one  is  afflicted  let  him  pray."  And  who 
U  not  ready  to  give  teftimony  to  the  falutary  influence 
of  this  hallowed  employment  ?  The  fuppliant  thus 
difburthens  the  mind  of  a  load,  before  intolerable  ; 
the  effufion  of  tears  cools  and  refreflies  the  heart. 
Prayer  does  not  always  bring  down  the  grace  that  is 
folicited,  but  verily  it  has  produced  its  effeci:,  when 
the  fpirit  is  moulded  into  the  will  of  the  Moft  High. 
Prayer  prevails  not  to  obtain  that  particular  blefling, 
but  behold  it  is  crowned  with  another  and  a  greater 
benefit.  The  expected  good  comes  not  exactly  at  the 
time  and  in  the  way  it  was  entreated,  but  it  is  convey- 
ed at  the  moft  proper  feafon,  and  in  the  (itteft  way ; 

and 


20O   ,^  Hijiory.. of  Hannah,  Lect.  XVIog.t 

and  how  much  is  the  enjoyment  heightened  and  fweet- 
ened  by  the  delay  !  Thus,  whether  the  wreftler  "  as 
a  prince  has  power  with  God,  and  prevails,"  or  by  a 
touch  is  made  fenfible  of  his  weaknefs  and  inferior- 
ity, God  is  glorified,  and  the  divine  life  is  promoted 
in  him. 

The  memoirs  of  this  good  woman's  life  compre- 
hend but  a  very  fhort  period,  a  few  years  at  moft. 
Herein  confifts  one  of  the  excellencies  of  the  facred 
writings.  Other  biographers  drag  you  with  them  in- 
to dry,  uninterefting  details  of  events  which  had 
much  better  been  forgotten.  You  are  wearied  out 
with  the  laborious  dilplay  of  childifh  prattle,  the  pre- 
tendtd  prognoftic  of  future  eminence,  or  the  doting, 
imperfed,  diftorted  recolledlions  of  a  wretched  old 
man  who  has  outlived  himfelf.  There  are  in  truth 
very  few  particulars  in  any  man's  life  worthy  of  being 
recorded  ;  and  of  thofe  who  really  have  lived,  a  very 
fliort  memoir  indeed  will  ferve  all  the  valuable  pur- 
pofes  of  hiftory. 

Every  thing  of  importance  for  us  to  know  refped-? 
ing  Hannah  is  what  related  to  the  birth  of  her  fon 
Samuel ;  and  to  that  accordingly  the  fcripture  account 
of  her  is  confined.  She  is  the  fourth,  as  far  as  we 
recollect,  on  the  face  of  the  facred  hiftory,  reprefented 
in  nearly  fiinilar  circumllances,  and  (he  is  not  the 
leaf!  rerpe6:able  of  the  four.  "  Sarah  laughed,**  ftag- 
•^ering  at  the  promife  of  God  through  unbelief. 
Rebekah  feems  to  have  borne  her  trial  with  liftlefl- 
nefs  and  indifference ;  and  Rachael,  irritated  with 
her's,  lofes  all  fenfe  of  fliame  and  decency,  and  ex- 
claims, "  Give  me  children,  elfe  I  die."  Hannah  feels 
her  calamity  -i.^  a  woman,  deplores  it  as  a  woman, 
and  feeks  deliverance  from  it  as  one  who  believed  in 
the  power  and  grace  of  God. 

Obferve  the   more  delicate  fhades  in  her  character,  .    r.y 
She  rofe  not  up  till  "  after  they  had  eaten  in  Shiloh,;Ti  ti 
and  after   they   had  drunk."     She  had   patience  and 
felf-[!;ov>:r:i:aent  fufiicient  to  carry  her  without  any  ap- 
parent 


Lect.  ItVT.  Hijiory  of  Hannah.  201'' 

parent  difquietude,  through  the  formalities  of  a  pub- 
lic affembly,  which  muft  have  been  very  painful,  irk- 
fome,  and  difgufting  to  her.  She  would  rather  con- 
ftrain  herfelf,  than  make  others  uneafy ;  and  pine  in 
fecret,  rather  than  permit  her  private  griefs  to  fpread 
a  gloom  over  the  innocent  communications  of  fociety. 
Tell  me,  if  you  will,  that  the  remark  is  frivolous,  and 
the  doctrine  unedifying.  I  (hall  neither  feel  mortified 
nor  complain,  provided  you  permit  me  to  think  that 
nothing  is  frivolous  that  tends  to  unfold  the  excel- 
lence and  importance  of  the  female  charader,  and 
nothing  unedifying  which  ferves  to  improve  the  bet- 
ter part  of  our  fpecies  in  the  knowledge  of  the  means 
whereby  both  their  -  refpedability  and  import- 
iu\ce  may  be  effeftually  promoted.  I  repeat  it 
therefore  confidently,  that  Hannah  is  here  repre- 
fented  as  exemplifying  a  hard  leflbn,  but  one  of  high 
importance  to  all  her  fex,  Who  dees  not  know,  my 
female  friends,  that  your  condition  and  place  in  focie- 
ty necelTarily  fubjeft  you  to  many  cruel  privations, 
many  mortifying  conflraints  ?  What  heart  but  fympa- 
thizes  with  you,  obliged,  as  you  are,  to  bear  and  to 
forbear,  in  patience  and  filence,  and  to  pradife  pain- 
ful duty,  without  fo  much  as  the  poor  reward  of  no- 
tice and  approbation.  But  trull  me,  you  have  often, 
when  you  little  think  of  it,  the  admiration  and  efteem 
of  the  more  attentive  and  judicious ;  you  have  the 
fweet  confolation  of  reflefting  that  you  are  endeav- 
ouring to  act  well ;  you  can  look  up  in  humble  hope 
to  that  God  who  feeth  in  fecret ;  who  obferves  and 
records  what  the  world  overlooks  or  forgets. 

How  pitiable,  on  the  other  hand,  are  thofe  unhappy 
females,  who  dream  of  deriving  confequence  from 
vexing  and  diflurbing  all  around  them,  by  perpetual- 
ly bringing  forward  their  perfonal  vexations,  as  if  the 
world  had  nothing  to  mind  but  them,  and  their  real 
or  imaginary  grievances. 

But  this,  as  was  faid,  is  only  a  fliade  in  the  charac- 
ter ;  the  great,  ftriking  feature,  is  a  fervid,  importu- 
nate, 


402  Hijiory  of  Hannah,  Lect.  XVI. 

nate,  afpiring  fpirit  of  devotion.     Sighs  and  tears  are 
tlie  language  of  nature  finking  under  its  own  woe,  of 
a  "heart  that  knows  its  own  bitternefs ;"  prayer  is 
the  language  of  faith   in,  and  hope  toward  God,  the 
exertion  of  a  foul  flruggling  to  get  free,  cafting  its  bur- 
den upon  the  Lord,  and  acquiring  ftrength  from  ex- 
ercife.     There  is  a  beautiful  and  affeding  copioufnefs 
in  her  expreffion.     She  addrefles  God  as  the  Lord  of 
univerfal  nature,  who  "  doth  according  to  his  will,  in 
the  armies  of  heaven,  and  among  the  inhabitants  of 
the  earth  ;**  as  "  the  Lord  of  Hofts,"  who  has  all  crea- 
tures, all  events  in  his  haud  and  at  his  difpofal.     The 
repetition    of  the  word  "  handmaid"    is    emphatical, 
.and  powerfully  exprelTes  her  humility,  fubmillion,  and 
fenfe  of  dependence  ;  and  it  is  humility  that  lends  en- 
ergy  to   every   other   principle   of    the   divine   life. 
*'  From  the  abundance  of  the  heart  the  mouth  fpeak- 
eth,'*  and  accordingly  we  find  her  diverfifying  her  pe- 
tition into  all  the  various  modes  of  addrefs  ;  "  If  thou 
wilt  indeed  look  on  my  affliftion,  and  remember  me, 
and  not  forget  me.     Is  this  the  vain  repetition  of  the 
hypocrite,  who  thinks  he  fhall  "be  heard  for    his 
much  fpeaking  ?"  O  no,  it  is  the  honeft  effufion  of 
a  heart  filled  with  its  object,  perfifting  in  the  purfuit, 
and  rifmg  gradually  into  confidence  of  fuccefs. .   It 
is   a  happy   anticipation  of  the  Saviour's   doftrine, 
*'  that  men  ought  to  pray  always,  and  not  to  faint :" 
a  happy  example  of  clearnefs  and  precifion  in  the  fub- 
ject  matter  of  prayer,  of  confidence  in,  and  reliance 
on  the  Hearer  of  prayer,  of  holy  refolution  to   make 
a  fuitable  return  to  prayer  heard,  accepted,  and  an- 
fwered. 

But  what  v/as  here  the  expreffion  of  a  devout,  a 
praying  fpirit  ?  The  noife  of  the  Pharifee,  the  pomp 
of  words,  the  corre£tnefs  that  courts  the  applaufe  of 
men  ?  No,  but  the  ardour  of  a  gracious  fpirit  which 
neglecLS  forms,  which  never  think:  of  appearance,  or 
the  opinion  of  others,  which,  occupied  with  God,  over- 
looks man.     What  need  of  words,  to  him  who  reads 

the 


Xect.  XVI.  Hi/lory  of  Hannah,  203 

the  fecret  recefles  of  the  heart,  who  hears  the  half- 
breathed  figh  of  the  prifoner  in  his  dungeon,  who  col- 
lects the  falling  tears  of  the  mourner,  and  has  already 
granted  the  pious  requeft  before  it  is  formed  in  the  anx- 
ious bread  ?  Strong  inward  emotion  will  of  neceffity  im- 
print itfelf  on  the  external  appearance.  The  voice  may 
be  fuppreifed,  but  the  features  will  fpeak ;  what  bufh- 
el  will  confine  the  lightning  of  the  eye  ?  the  lips  will 
move  involuntary  ;  the  hands  will  raife  themielves  to 
heaven,  without  an  admonition  from  vanity,  and  the 
bofom  will  fwell  to  make  room  for  the  expanding 
heart,  though  no  eye  is  prefent  to  fee  it,  and  regardlefs 
whether  there  be  or  no* 

How  equivocal  are  the  figns  of  human  pafHons,  and 
how  liable  to  miftake  is  the  moft  difcerning  human 
eye  ?  What  was  in  the  fight  of  God  an  indication  of 
faith  believing  againft  hope,  of  a  fervent  piety  which 
totally  abforbed  the  fenfes,  of  a  heavenly  mind  which 
rapt  the  very  body  up  to  the  throne  of  God,  is,  in 
the  fight  of  Eli,  the  diforder  of  a  diftempered  brain, 
the  effeft  of  excefs,  the  loweft,  the  moft  deplorable, 
the  moft  difgufting  exhibition  of  degraded  humanity. 
Alas,  the  good  man,  as  we  ftiall  prefently  find,  had 
"  a  beam  in  his  own  eye ;"  and  thereby  was  led  to 
difcern  "  a  mote'*  in  that  of  another,  where  there  was 
none.  In  refleding  on  the  rafti  judgments  of  men, 
the  choice  of  David,  when  in  a  great  ftrait,  preffes  it- 
felf upon  us  with  redoubled  force  ;  "  Let  me  fall  now 
into  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  for  his  mercies  are  great ; 
and  let  me  not  fall  into  the  hand  of  man.**  "  If  God 
juftifieth,  who  is  he  that  condemneth  ?'*  But  ah  !  what 
fignifies  the  applaufe  of  the  world  to  him  who  is  con- 
demned of  his  own  confciencc,  and  who  trembles  eve- 
ry hour  at  thought  of  the  righteous  judgment  of 
God! 

I  like  the  defence  of  Hannah  almoft  as  well  as  her 
prayer  ;  it  argues  conscious  innocence  and  integrity. 
Not  a  fmgle  particle  of  gall  enters  into  her  reply,  not 
even  a  particle  of  honeft  heat  and  indignation,  at  an 

imputation 


904/     f    [  "       Hijiory  of  Hannah,  Lect.'  avL 

imputation  fo  odious.  A  female  charged  with  a 
breach  of  decency  fo  grofs  as  excefs  of  wine,  and  not 
break  out  into  a  flame  !  Ah,  her  calmnefs  and  temper 
refute  fufficiently  the  infamous  afperfion,  infinitely 
better  than  a  torrent  of  intemperate  abufe  would  have 
•done.  How  calm,  how  beautiful,  how  lovely,  how 
•dignified  is  innocence  !  It  feeks  the  light,  it  fhrinks 
not  from  the  eye  of  infpeftion,  it  defies  calumny,  and 
wraps  itfelf  up  in  its  own  pure  mantle ;  but  difdains 
not,  at  the  fame  time,  to  fatisfy  the  honefl  inquiry, 
and  to  remove  the  hafty  fufpicion  of  true  goodnefs  ; 
it  is  always  ready  to  render  a  reafon,  always  ready  to 
prevent  its  good  from  being  .evil  fpoken  of. 

The  condu6t  of  Eli  is  eltimable  in  two  points  of 
view.  Obferving,  as  he  thought,  the  temple  of  the 
Lord  profaned,  and  the  female  character  difhonoured, 
he  honeftly  fpeaks  out  his  fufpicion  and  cenfure  to  the 
party  concerned  ;  inftead  of  whifpering  them  in  the 
ear  of  a  third  perfon  ;  and  thereby  affords  an  oppor- 
tunity of  explanation,  and  of  coming  to  a  right  under- 
ftanding  :  and,  once  fatisfied  of  his  having  been  mif- 
taken,  he  retrads  his  hafty  judgment,  and  exchanges 
reprehemlon  into  blefling,  and  fupplicates  Heaven  in 
favour  of  her  whom  he  had  rafhly  condemned. 

To  what  a  happy  ferenity  is  the  mind  of  Hannah 
now  reftored !  She  has  poured  out  her  foul  before 
the  Lord,  and  vindicated  her  innocence  to  man.  The 
tranquillity  and  joy  of  her  fpirit  fhine  in  the  whole  of 
her  outward  deportment ;  her  countenance  brightens 
up,  {he  partakes  in  the  feftivity  of  the  feafon,  and  "  is 
no  more  fad.**  What  a  different  figure  does  the  fame 
man  prefent  to  the  eyes  of  the  world,  inflamed  with 
rage,  torn  with  envy,  ftung  with  remorfe,  diftrafted 
with  anxiety,  degraded  with  debauchery  ;  or  with  a 
virage  beaming  benevolence,  eyes  animated  with  love, 
a  form  firm  and  ered  from  confcious  integrity. 

Would   you  wi(h   to  appear  to   advantage  before 

♦^■'others,  take  care  to  cleanfe  the  infide  of  the  cup.     Pu- 

ri^  thyfelf  '-  from  all  filthinefs  of  the  fpirit.'*     Let 

order 


I^ECT.  XVr.  Hiflory  of  Haiinah.  205 

order  and  peace  reign  within ;  no  artificial  daubing 
applied  on  the  outfide,  no  fplendour  or  elegance  of 
apparel,  no  ftudied  arrangement  of  the  features,  wiU 
do  it  half  fo  well.  i 

Looks  and  appearance  are  perhaps  of  inferior  con- 
fequence  to  one  fex,  but  they  are  of  much  to  the 
other.  With  fome,  appearance  is  all  in  all.  In  that 
view,  it  is  not  eafy  to  imagine  the  effed  which  the  in^- 
'ward  temper  and  charader  produce.  Beauty  be- 
comes perfect  uglinefs,  and  ini'pires  nothing  but  dif- 
guft,  from  the  moment  that  the  face  begins  to  wear 
the  traces  of  pride,  contempt,  envy,  fury  or  infolence. 
On  the  other  hand,  be  afl'ured,  that  a  very  homely 
external  may  be  improved  into  perfe£l  lovelinefs,  by 
affability,  gentlenefs,  benevolence,  compaffion,  and, 
above  all,  by  a  fpirit  of  genuine  piety,  the  parent  of 
"^  every  grace.  If  there  be  a  human  being  that  really 
^  deferves  the  name  of  angel,  a  term,  for  the  moft  part, 
mofl  vilely  proftituted,  it  is  a  fenfible  woman  defcend- 
ing  from  the  temple,  or  ifluing  from  her  clofet,  to  en- 
ter with  com^pofednefs,  fweetnefs  and  fatisfad:ion  on 
the  employments  of  her  humble,  but  important  Ration 
in  human  life. 

It  was  through  the  diforder  of  a  divided  family,  it 
was  through  the  woe  of  an  afflided  woman,  it  was 
amidft  the  corruptions  of  a  degenerate  church  and  a 
disjointed  ftate,  that  God  was  pleafed  to  raife  up  a 
prophet,  a  priefl,  a  judge  in  Ifrael  to  ftem  the  torrent, 
to  reftore  the  loft  dignity  of  religion,  to  fave  a  finking 
nation.  When  events  flow  in  an  even  channel,  when 
the  powers  of  nature  produce  their  effect  in  an  uni- 
form tenor,  a  bhnd  chance,  an  irrefiftible  fate,  or  an 
unintelligent  arrangement  receives  the  homage,  which 
is  due  only  to  fovereign  wifdom,  and  all-comprehen- 
five  beneficence.  For  this  reafon,  God  fometimes 
permits  the  great  machine  as  it  were  to  fland  ftill, 
that  men  may  obferve  by  what  hand  it  is  ftopt,  and  by 
■what  hand  it  is  put  in  motion  again. 

Ifaac, 


io6  Hijiory  of  Hannah*  Lect.  XVI. 

Ifaac,  Jacob,  Samfon,  Samuel,  four  of  the  moft 
eminent  among  the  types  of  the  great  Reftorer  of  fall- 
en man,  were  introduced  into  the  world,  through  the 
agonies  of  defponding  nature,  through  the  exercife  of 
undaunted  faith,  and  the  unwearied  importunity  of 
prayer  and  fupplication.  They  were  the  fuccelfive 
lights  of  the  world,  each  in  his  day  ;  and  having  eve- 
ry one  fulfilled  his  day,  were  fuccelfively  extinguifti- 
ed.  The  great  Light  of  the  world  has  ariien,  the  ftars 
difappear,  the  fhadows  are  fled  away.  Patriarchs  and 
prophets  bring  their  glory,  and  lay  it  at  his  feet,  a 
voice  from  heaven  proclaims,  "  This  is  my  beloved 
Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleafed,  hear  Him." 

— Let  not  the  apparently  declining  ftate  of  any  in- 
terefl  preach  defpair ;  for  every  evil  has  its  remedy, 
except  defpair.  That  caufe  mufl  perifh,  which  all 
agree  to  give  up  as  loft  ;  a  dying  caufe  may  revive  and 
flourilh  by  the  wifdom  and  honeft  exertions  of  one 
man.  Impaired  health  often  iffues  in  death,  embar- 
raffed  circumftances  in  bankruptcy,  an  irregular  life 
in  irretrievable  perdition ;  becaufe  the  patient,  the 
debtor,  the  fmner  gave  himfelf  up  too  haftily,  and 
was  loft  through  fear  of  being  loft.  While  there  is 
*'  balm  in  Gilead,  and  a  phyfician  there,"  no  wound, 
however  grievous,  is  incurable.  While  there  is 
friendftiip,  while  there  is  compafiion  on  earth,  honeft 
diftrefs  will  find  fympathy  and  relief.  While  the 
throne  of  grace  is  accefTible,  there  is  hope  "  for  the 
chief  of  fmners." 

And  if  no  caufe  of  man  be  defperate,  who  fhall 
dare  to  defpair  of  the  caufe  of  God  and  truth  ?  Be- 
hold, in  a  pofterior  period  of  this  facred  hlftory,*  the 
utter  extirpation  of  the  pofterity  of  Abraham  deter- 
mined, and  the  plans  of  Providence  threatened,  of 
courfe,  with  defeat  and  difappointment.  Behold  the 
bloody  warrant  figned,  and  "  fealed  with  the  ring" 
of  Ahafuerus,  and  thereby  rendered  irreverfible.  •  Be-  ^ 
hold  the  vengeful  Haman,  like  the  exterminating  an- 
gel* 

*  Efther  iii.  S — 15. 


Lict.  XVL"  Hiftorj  of  Hannah',  207 

gel,  with  his  fword  drawn  in  his  hand,  ready  to  falf 
upon  his  prey.  What  can  fave  a  devoted  people 
from  deftrudion  ?  One  obfcure  Jew  ;  one  not  admit- 
ted to  the  king's  councils,  but  who  fat  unregarded  in  ;, 
the  king's  gate.  He  feels  as  a  citizen  and  a  man,  he^ 
laments  the  impending  doom  of  his  country  as  a  citi- 
zen and  a  rtian ;  but  he  likewife  ads,  and  exerts  him- 
felf  like  a  citizen  and  a  man,  and  leaves  the  iffue  tot 
Him,  in  vvhofe  hand  are  the  hearts  of  kings — and  it 
prolpered.  The  remonflrance  of  Mordecai  with  the 
queen,  at  this  awful  crifis,  is  a  mafter-piece  of  intre- 
pidity, piety  and  good  fenfe,  and  furnifhes  an  ufeful. 
example  for  the  conduct  of  both  public  and  private 
life.  "  Then  Mordecai  commanded  to  anfwer  Efther, 
Think  not  with  thyfelf  that  thou  Ihalt  efcape  in  the- 
king's  houfe,  more  than  all  the  Jews.  For  if  thou  al- 
together holdefl  thy  peace  at  this  time,  then  fhall- 
there  enlargement  and  deliverance  arife  to  the  Jews 
from  another  place,  but  thou  and  thy  father's  houfe 
fhall  be  dellroyed :  and  who  knoweth  whether  thou 
art  come  to  the  kingdom  for  fuch  a  time  as  this  ?"* 
The  Roman  conful,  whofe  raihnefs  loft  the  battle  of  : 
Cannse,  and  endangered  the  exiftence  of  the  ftate^/ 
received  the  thanks  of  the  fenate,  "  becaufe  he  had  not 
defpaired  of  the  commonwealth."  The  gallant  prince 
of  Orange,  afterwards  William  III.  of  England,  when  : 
urged  to  fubmit  to  the  viftorious  arms  of  France,  - 
which  were  ravaging  the  United  Provinces,  and  when 
the  ruin  of  the  republic  feemed  inevitable,  nobly  re- 
plied, "  There  is  one  way  to  fecure  me  from  the  fight 
of  my  country's  deftru£tion  j  I  will  die -in  the  lafl 
ditch."  His  refolution  prevailed,  and  his  country  1 
was  faved  from  the  yoke  of  the  invader.  And  if  con- 
fidence in  a  fkilful,  brave  and  fortunate  commander^ 
can  carry  a  handful  to  victory  through  myriads  of 
foes,  what  has  the  chriftian  to  fear,  let  difficulties  and 
dangers  be  ever  fo  many,  ever  fo  great,  while  coufcious  v 

he 

*  Efther  iy.  13,  14. 


ao8  Hifiory  of  Hannah,  Lect.  XVI. 

he  is  engaged  in  a  good  caufe,  and  that  he  is  follow- 
ing "  the  Captain  of  Salvation  ?** 

We  proceed  to  view  the  chara£ler  and  behaviour 
of  Hannah  in  the  hour  of  fuccefs  and  profperity,  blefT- 
ed  with  the  anfwer  of  prayer,  and  exulting  in  the  en- 
joyment of  the  pureft  delights,  and  in  performing  the 
mod  important  duties  of  life  and  religion. — May  our 
meditation  on  thefe  things  be  fweet  and  profitable ! 
Amen. 


Hifiory 


Hiftory    of    Hannah, 


THE    MOTHER    OF    SAMUEL. 


LECTURE       XVII. 


I    SAMUEL  1.    19 23. 

And  they  arofe  up  in  the  tmrning  early ^  and  ijuorjhipped 
before  the  Lord,  and  returned,  and  came  to  thdr  houfe 
to  Ramah  ;  and  Elkanah  knew  Hannah  his  wife,  and 
the  Lord  remembered  her.  Wherefore  it  came  to  pafs, 
when  the  time  was  come  about,  after  Hannah  had  conceiv-^ 
ed,  that  fhe  bare  a  fan,  and  called  his  name  Samuel, 
faying,  Becaufe  I  have  afkedhim  of  the  Lord.  And  the 
man  Elkanah,  and  all  his  houfe,  went  up  to  offer  unto 
the  Lord  the  yearly  facrifice,  and  his  vow.  But  Han- 
nah went  not  up  :  for  fhe  f aid  unto  her  hufhand,  I  will 
not  go  up  until  the  child  be  weaned,  and  then  1  will 
bring  him,  that  he  may  appear  before  the  Lord,  and 
there  abide  forever.  And  Elkanah  her  hufband  faid 
unto  her.  Do  what  feemeth  thee  good ;  tarry  until  thou 
have  weaned  him  ;  only  the  Lord  cftablifh  his  word. 
So  the  wo?nan  abode,  and  gave  her  fon  fuck  until  Jhe 
weaned  him. 

X.  HE  birth  of  a  child  is  an  event  of  much  importance 
to  thofe  who  are  immediately  concerned  in  it,  and  of 
much  importance  to  the  world.  It  is  natural  for  a 
man  to  wlfti  that  his  family  ihould  be  built  up,  and 
his  name  tranlmitted.  Every  child  is  an  accellion  to 
Vol.  VI.  O  national 


'2 to  Hijiory  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XVIX 

national  flrength,  is  one  more  added  to  the  number 
of  rational,  immortal  beings,  is  a  new  difplay  of  the 
great  Creator's  power,  wifdom  and  goodnefs.  There 
lie  dormant  the  precious  feeds  of  faculties  which  are 
one  day  to  aftonifh,  inftrutl  and  blefs  mankind. 
Thefe  infants,  a  few  years  hence,  are  to  be  the  pillars 
of  the  flate,  the  bulwarks  of  their  country,  the  glory 
of  the  church  of  Chrifi:.  That  young  one  fhall  by 
nnd  by  burft  through  the  obfcurity  of  his  birth,  and 
the  meannefs  of  his  condition  ;  fhall  become  eminent- 
ly ufeful,  and  purchafe  a  name  which  ages  to  come 
fhall  pronounce  with  refped  and  efleem.  But  what 
is  it  to  be  known  and  diftinguifTied  among  men  ?  The 
period  approaches,  when  God  himfelf  fhall  in  the  face 
of  the  univerfe  acknowledge  the  leafl  of  thefe  as  his 
fons,  and  feat  them  on  heavenly  thrones. 

It  is  natural  for  a  man  to  wifh  his  family  built  up, 
and  for  a  good  woman  to  wifh  the  name  and  virtues 
of  the  hufband  of  her  youth  preferved  and  propagat- 
ed, even  though  fne  has  not  the  fond  defire,  the  flat- 
tering hope,  of  being  a  mother  in  Ifrael.  But  the 
determinations  of  Providence  do  not  always  accord 
Avith  the  innocent  propenfities  of  the  human  heart, 
much  lefs  with  the  infatiate  demands  of  pride,  avarice 
and  ambition.  Even  the  wife,  the  amiable  and  the 
virtuous  are  vifited  with  this  fore  evil,  the  want  of 
children.  It  is  fometimes  the  calamity  of  thofe  who 
have  no  other  calamity.  It  demouftrates  the  imper- 
fection of  human  blifs  ;  it  fpreads  a  field  for  the  exer- 
cife  of  refignation  to  the  will  of  God  ^  it  furniihes 
both  a  motive  and  a  fubject  for  prayer  :  for  we  can 
carry  with  confidence,  to  the  throne  of  grace,  many 
a  petition  which  we  fliould  be  afraid  or  afhamed  of 
]  referring  to  a  man  hke  ourfelves.  Happy  is  the 
man,  happy  the  woman,  who  can  depofit  this  and  ev- 
ery other  care  in  the  bofom  (^f  a  Father  in  heaven. 
She  may  fit  down  with  Hannah,  and  "  eat"  and  drink, 
'*  and  be  no  more  fad.'* 

We 


Lect.  XVII.  Hijiory  of  Hannah.  Clw 

We  are  this  evening  prefented  v/ith  the  hiftory  of 
the  birth  and  infancy  of  one  of  thofe  illuftrious  chil- 
dren whofe  fame  is  univerfally  known,  and  Ihall  be  had 
in  everlafting  remembrance,  namely,  of  Samuel,  the 
prophet  of  the  Lord,  the  judge  of  Ifrael,  the  fetter  up 
and  the  terror  of  kings  ;  the  glory  of  his  own  age 
and  country  ;  and  the  morning-ftar  of  a  brighter 
day.  The  gift  of  this  precious  child  was  long  with- 
held, that  it  might  be  more  devoutly  acknowledged, 
and  more  highly  prized.  Men  overlook  the  ordinary 
appearances  of  nature,  however  ftupendous  and  ftrik- 
ing.  In  order  therefore  to  roufe  them  to  attention, 
and  conftrain  them  to  obferve  the  finger  of  God,  the 
fiery  comet  is  made  to  glare  through  the  fky,  and  the 
earth  fliakes  to  the  centre. 

The  bleffing  was  fweetened  to  Hannah  by  every 
circumftance  that  can  afFed  the  fond  maternal  heart. 
A  child  to  one  who  had  long  been  aiilifted  with  bar- 
rennefs,  and  cruelly  infulted  on  that  account ;  a  man- 
child,  the  anfwer  of  prayer  ;  the  power  of  performing 
for  her  darling  infant  the  fweeteft,  and  one  of  the  moft 
important,  maternal  duties ;  and  the  cordial  concur- 
rence of  the  father  in  all  her  prudent,  affedionate  and 
pious  purpofes ;  prefent  enjoyment,  and  bloffoming 
profpects !  If  there  be  pure  and  perfed  blifs  on 
earth,  it  is  the  portion  of  fuch  a  woman,  in  fuch  a  fit- 
uation. 

"  The  Lord  remembered  her."  Was  he  ever  un- 
mindful or  unkind  ?  No,  he  delayed,  and  he  granted 
in  love.  How  much  it  concerns  thee,  O  man,  O  wom- 
an, to  know  and  to  believe  this  !  What  can  recon- 
cile thee  to  the  hardfnips  of  thy  lot,  but  the  perfuafion 
that  the  good  thou  defireft  is  denied  in  wifdom,  and 
the  load  that  opprefles  thee  laid  on  by  the  hand  of  a 
Father  ?  Truft  in  the  Lord,  and  be  of  good  cheer  ; 
the  time  to  favour  thee  will  come  ;  "  the  Lord  will 
provide,"  "  the  Lord  will  remember  thee." 

"  She  bare  a  Ion,  and  called  his  name  Samuel." 

Gracious  is  the  correfpondence  between  a  devout  fpir- 

O  a  jt 


212  Hiflory  of  Ha-nnah.  Lect.  XML 

it  and  approving,  aflenting  Heaven.  Behold  the 
prayer  of  faith  afcending  as  on  eagle*s  wings,  anct" 
refting  on  thcfootftool  of  yonder  radiant  throne  ;  be- 
hold the  good  and  perfect  gift  coming  dov/n  in  return 
from  the  Father  of  lights.  Thus  the  vapours  exhaled 
from  the  briny  deep,  fall  back  in  copious  fhovi^ers  to 
refrcili  and  fertilize  the  earth.  What  a  holy  conten- 
tion is  here  prefented  to  us !  The  pious  foul  driving 
Avith  God  in  fupplication,  in  praife,  in  obedience,  in 
faithfulnefs  ;  the  God  of  mercy  ftriving  vi^ith  the  meek 
and  humble  one  in  fhewing  kindnefs,  in  heaping  favour 
upon  favour.  Samuel,  "  afked  and  given  of  God," 
fliall  bear  to  the  laft  hour  of  his  life  the  memorial  of 
his  mother's  fervent  importunity  at  the  throne  of 
grace,  and  of  God'^s  hearing  her  in  the  time  of  need.  It 
ihali  ferve  forever  to  remind  himfelf  that  he  v/as  a 
gift  obt:iined  of  God  by  prayer,  and  devoted  to  God 
in  gratitude.  Every  tongue  that  pronounces,  every 
ear  that  hears  the  found,  ihall  be  admoniflied  of  the 
union  which  devotion  forms  and  maintains  between 
earth  and  heaven.  The  mother  names,  the  father 
alTents,  God  approves,  and  time  confirms  the  nom- 
ination. 

We  find  Elkanah  and  all  of  his  family,  who  were 
iit  for  the  journey,  again  on  the  road  to  Shiloh,  to 
celebrate  the  great  yearly  feftival,  after  the  birth  of 
his  fon.  The  bounties  of  Providence  bind  more  pow- 
erfully the  duties  of  the  law  upon  the  heart  a«  well  as 
upon  the  confcience,  and  thereby  render  religion  not 
only  a  reafonable,  but  a  pleafant  fervice.  The  pleai- 
ure  of  waiting  upon  God,  in  the  ordinances  of  his  ap- 
pointment, was  greatly  heightened  to  this  good  man, 
by  the  company  of  thofe  whom  nature  had  endeared 
to  him.  The  length  and  inconvenience  of  the  road 
were  relieved,  and  fweetened,  and  iliortened,  by 
friendly  converfation,  and  mutual  offices  of  attention 
and  kindnefs.  The  bitternefs  of  ilrife  is  heard  no 
more.  The  facririce  is  ofiered  up  with  greater  ardour, 
when  one  flame  of  affeclion  meets  another  in  prefent- 


LzcT.  XVII.  Hijfory  of  Hannah.  213 

ing  it ;  and  the  feaft  of  peace  acquires  a  higher  relifh 
from  its  being  eaten  in  the  fpirit,  and  in  the  bonds  of 
love.  Social  worfhip,  as  has  been  obferved,  has  a 
inofl  bleiTed  effeQ;  in  producing,  fupporting  and  improv- 
ing focial  affections.  The  tie  of  duty  is  ftrengthen- 
ed  between  hufband  and  wife  ;  the  bond  of  nature  be- 
tween parent  and  child,  between  brother  and  brother, 
is  fortilied  and  ennobled  by  going  together  to  the 
houfe  of  God,  and  returning  in  company  from  thence- 
The  eye  of  a  flranger  is  caught  and  pleafed  with  the 
fight  of  a  decent  family  on  their  road  to  the  temple. 
Your  prayers  arife  with  increafed  ardour  from  feeing 
your  children  around  you,  in  the  houfe  of  prayer  j 
your  hearts  glow  with  a  holier  gratitude  when  you 
hear  their  voices  join  in  the  praifes  v/hich  you  fmg. 
Offence  has  been  given,  behold  it  loft,  and  forgotten 
forever,  becaufe  the  parties  have  bov/ed  their  knees  to- 
gether before  God,  and  pronounced  together  the  pe- 
tition of  reconciliation  and  peace.  "  Heavenly  Fa- 
ther, forgive  our  trefpaffes  as  we  forgive  them  who 
trefpafs  againft  us."  Common  mercies  have  been 
received ;  fee  hov/  they  increafe  and  multiply,  fee 
with  what  additional  fatisfaftion  they  are  felt  and  en- 
joyed, while  the  notes  of  thankfgiving  afcend  from 
hearts  and  lips  in  unifon.  Common  dillrefs  preffes  ; 
lo,  the  burthen  is  already  made  light,  the  mourners 
have  been  together  before  the  Father  of  mercies,  the 
refuge  of  the  miferable ;  they  have  poured  out  their 
hearts  before  God,  and  are  lightened  ;  they  have  call 
all  their  care  upon  him,  and  are  at  reft. 

Chriftians,  you  have  no  painful  and  expenfive  jour- 
ney to  undertake,  m.  order  to  prefent  yourfelves  be- 
fore the  Lord.  Your  Shiloh  is  at  home.  Of  you  no 
coftly  facrifice  is  demanded;  "Offer  unto  the  Lord 
thankfgiving,  and  pay  your  vows  unto  the  Moft  High  ; 
and  call  upon  himir)  the  day  of  trouble."  Chriftian 
parent,  Providence  has  made  thee  prieft  to  that  little 
church  and  congregation  ;  bear  them,  as  Aaron  did 
the  twelve  tribes  of  Ifrael,  engraven  like  jewels  upon 

thy 


314  B'lftory  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XVIl. 

thy  heart,  to  the  moft  holy  place  ;  to  the  altar  of  in- 
cenfe. 

"  But  Hannah  went  not  up  ;  for  (he  faid  unto  her 
hufband,  Not  until  the  child  be  weaned."  Every  duly 
of  life  and  of  religion  has  its  proper  place  and  leafon. 
God  hath  faid,  and  the  great  Teacher  fent  from  God, 
hath  by  both  precept  and  pra6lice  eftabHfhed  the  w.rd, 
*'  I  will  have  mercy  and  not  facrifice."  The  rei^Gjion 
which  makes  light  of  relative  duty,  which  teaches 
carelefsnefs  or  negleft  in  our  lawful  worldly  concerns, 
and  withdraws  men  from  their  place  and  flation  in  \0' 
ciety,  is  miftaken  and  erroneous ;  it  is  not  the  reiig- 
ion  of  the  Bible  ;  it  has  neither  authority  nor  example 
to  fupport  it.  That  man  is  doing  God  fervice,  who  la-p 
bours  in  his  vocation,  that  he  may  have  wherewith  to 
do  juftly,  and  to  fliew  mercy  ;  not  he  who  is  flothful 
in  bufmefs,  but  eager  in  argument,  and  who  gives 
himfelf  to  fpeculating,  when  he  ought  to  be  working 
with  his  hands.  That  woman  is  performing  a  relig- 
ious fervice,  who  is  looking  well  to  her  houfehold ; 
giving  fuck  to  one  child  and  inftruclion  to  another, 
praftifmg  induftry  and  economy  ;  not  llie  who  is  for- 
ever rambling  after  favourite  dogmas  or  favourite 
teachers  ;  aiming  at  fhining  in  the  church,  when  fne 
ought  to  be  fhining  in  her  moil  honourable  fphere, 
her  own  houfe ;  and  engaging  warmly  in  matters  of 
doubtful  difputition,  while  the  food  and  cloathing  of 
her  family  are  neglected.  Who  can  call  in  quedion 
the  piety  of  Hannah  ?  And  furely  her  abfenting  herfelf 
from  the  feafl:  at  Shiloh,  on  fo  juft  an  occafion,  will 
not  be  deemed  an  impeachment  of  it. 

But  though  the  hiflory  has  led  me  to  make  thefe 
remarks,  perhaps,  in  our  day,  they  might  have  been 
fpared.  Have  I  not  been  combating  a  miilake  into 
which  neither  the  men  nor  the  women  of  the  prefent 
age  are  greatly  difpofed  to  fa^i  ?  Ought  I  not  rath- 
er to  caution  my  hearers  againlk  the  prevalence  of  a 
worldly  fpirit,  to  the  extinction  not  only  of  the  foul, 
but   to  the  negled  of  the  very   form  of  religion  ? 

What, 


-Lx'CT.  XVII.  Hi/ion  of  Hannah.  -215 

What,  warn  this   generation   againfl  "  the  danger  of 
•being  religious   over-much  ?"  What,   warn   them   cf 
the  importance  of  attending  to,  and   purfuing   their 
temporal  intereft  ?    What,  caution   them  againfl  fre- 
quenting the  temple  on  working  days,  when  they  will 
not  be  diverted  from   the  purfuit  of  bufmefs  or  pleaf- 
ure  on  the  Lord's  day  ?    I  was  in   the  v.'rong  ;  and  I 
change  the  object  of  my  exhortation.     To  you,  -O 
men,  I  call,  who,  abforbed  in  frivolous,  tranfitory  oc- 
•cupations,   forget   that  "  one   thing  is   needful ;"  to 
you,  who,  wallowing  in  the  bounties  of  an  indulgent 
Providence,  regard  not  the  hand  from  which  all  your 
comforts    flow ;     to    you,   who,    rifing   into    a    little 
■wealth,  a  little  hope,  a  little  confequence,   have  loft 
the  recolletlion  of  your  having  once  been  needy,  and 
obfcure  and   unimportant ;    and,    what   is    infinitely 
worfe,  hav^  lofl  the  recolleftion  and  the  practice  of 
that  humility,  and  decency,  and  piety,  which  poverty 
and  obfcurity,  and  dependence  taught  and   enforced. 
To  you,   O  women,  I  call,  who,  without  a  fhadow 
of  reafon  ;  who,  in  the  face  of  decency  and  propriety, 
who,  in  defiance  of  both  feeling  and  confcience  ;  who, 
•entrufted  with  the  education  of  children,  female  chil- 
dren, fuel  not  the  importance  of  the  charge,  or  are  not 
aware  of  the  influence  of  example  ;  can  difpenfe  with 
the  very  externals  of  gojdhnefs, can  become  the  patterns 
of  fabbath  negle6t  or  violation  ;    can  trifle  with  any 
thing  that  affeds  the  morals  or  rehgion  of  the  rifmg 
generation.    To  you  I  call,  and  fay,  you  are  treafuring 
up  for  yourfelves  remorfe  ;  and  for  thefe  young  ones, 
whom  you  dearly  love,  Ihame,  and  forrow,  and  diflrefs. 
What  is  the  lot  of  a  female,  without  the  confolations 
of  rehgion  ;  and  how  is  a  young  woman  to  learn  re- 
ligion if  not  from   her  own  mother  ?  Let  me  remind 
you  of  what  you  once  thought,  felt  and  refolved.     You 
carried  that  child  with  uneafmefs  and  anxiety  in  your 
womb  ;  you  formed  a  thoufand  fond  wiflics,  you  put 
up  a  thoufand  prayers,  you  came  under  a  thoufand  en'^ 
gagcmcnts.     You    employed   not   perhaps    the   very 

words 


2i6  Hijiory  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XVII. 

words  of  Hannah,  but  undoubtedly  you  entered  en- 
tirely into  her  views,  and  the  fruit  of  the  womb  was 
to  be  "  hoUnefs  to  the  Lord."  Well,  God  has  been 
gracious  to  thee,  and  remembered  thee.  Thou  haft 
furvived  the  danger,  and  been  delivered  from  tjie  pangs 
of  chitd-birth.  You  have  enjoyed  the  fatisfaclion  of 
training  the  beloved  of  your  foul  through  the  dan- 
gers, difficulties  and  folicitude  of  infancy  and  child- 
hood, God  has  graciouily  done  his  part,  and  you 
have  fo  far  performed  yours.  But  did  your  engage- 
ments ceafe,  when  the  infant  was  weaned  ?  Did  you 
rear  that  tender  plant  with  fo  much  anxiety,  tender- 
nefs  and  care,  only  to  poifon  and  corrupt  it,  after  it 
had  begun  to  take  root,  and  bud,  and  bloflbm  ?.  Know 
you  not,  that  the  inconfideration  and  folly  of  a  day 
may  deftroy  the  pains  and  labour  of  many  years ;  and 
that  the  eyes  of  children  are  much  quicker  and  more 
retentive  than  their  ears  ? 

Happy  that  daughter  who  is  betimes  formed  to 
habits  of  difcretion,  of  purity,  of  regularity,  of  piety, 
by  the  tender  guardian  and  guide  of  her  early  days ! 
Happy  that  mother  whofe  attention  is  bent  on  infuf- 
ing  betimes,  in  her  female  offspring  at  leaft,  the  prin- 
ciples of  wifdom,  virtue,  and  true  godJinef*  ;  who 
is  honoured  to  exemplify  what  fhe  teaches,  and  is 
bleffed  with  a  docile,  affectionate,  and  improving  dif- 
ciple ! 

The  manner  in  which  Elkanah  and  Hannah  live  and 
converfe  together,  is  exemplary  and  inftrudlive.  They 
have  one  common  intereft  ;  they  have  one  darling  ob- 
je6l  of  affeftion  ;  they  exprefs  one  and  the  fame  will, 
in  terms  of  mutual  kindnefs  an.d  endearment.  "  She 
faid  unto  her  huiband,  I  will  not  go  up  until  the  child 
be  weaned,  ^nd  then  I  will  bring  him,  that  he  may  ap- 
pear before  the  Lord,  and  there  abide  forever.  And 
Elkanah  her  hufband  faid  unto  her.  Do  what  feemeth 
thee  good,  tarry  until  thou  have  weaned  him,  only  the 
Lord  eftabliih  his  word.  So  the  woman  abode,  and 
gave  her  fon  fuck  until  Hie  had  weaned  him." 

Th?re 


L  E  c  T .  XVII.  Hijiory  of  Han?jah.  1 1 7 

There  was  in  all  this  a  commanding  principle  of 
religion,  of  zeal  for  the  will  and  glory  of  God,  which 
regulated  the  fpirit,  and  infpired  the  tongue  ;  without 
which,  I  am  afraid  there  is  but  a  llender  fecurity  for 
dome  (lie  felicity  in  the  exercife  of  even  good  nature 
and  good  manners,  much  lels  in  a  mere  fenfe  of  de- 
cency, or  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  world.  Thefe 
may  overawe  at  particular  feafons  and  in  particular 
fitua  lions  ;  but  the  fear  and  love  of  God  are  perma- 
nent and  unvarying  principles  ;  they  enforce  and  af- 
lift  relative  duty  till  it  grows  into  a  habit,  and  habit  ren- 
ders even  difficult  thmgs  eafy  and  agreeable. 

Samuel,  wiio  is  his  own  biographer,  has  moft  judi- 
cioufly  drawn  a  veil  over  his  infancy.  Chiidifh  prog- 
noflics  of  future  eminence  are  generally  ridiculous 
and  contemptible  j  they  can  impofe  only  on  the  par- 
tiality of  parental  affec?tion,  or  the  credulity  of  fuper- 
ftition.  The  cynic  fnaris  difdain  at  the  relation  of 
thefe  premature  prodigies  of  dawning  wifdom,  and  the 
fage  fmiles  indulgence  and  compaffion  on  the  fond  be- 
lief. Let  parents,  by  ail  means,  amufe,  delight  them- 
felves  and  each  other  with  the  fallies  of  infant,  open- 
ing genius,  but  let  them  keep  the  delight  to  them- 
felves.  It  is  one  of  the  joys  in  which  "  a  Granger  in- 
termeddleth  not." 

In  the  next  Lecture  we  fhall  be  led  forward  to  con- 
fider  the  prefentment  of  Samuel  before  the  Lord  in 
Shiloh  ;  the  facrifice' which  accompanied  that  folemn 
ceremony  ;  the  farther  difcovery  of  the  amiable  and 
excellent  fpirit  by  which  the  mother  was  actuated  ; 
and  the  infant  prophet's  entrance  on  his  important 
office. 

— Behold  once  more,  chriftians,  the  fpirit  of 
prophecy  ftill  pointing  to  one  and  the  fame  great  ob- 
je£t.  The  perfons  and  circumftances  of  the  prophets 
Y/ere  various  ;  but  amidil  that  variety,  fome  one  link- 
ing feature  of  character,  office  or  condition  announced 
''  Him  that  was  to  come,"  more  clearly  or  more  ob- 
fcurely  refleded  his  image,  and  "  prepared  the  way  of 

the 


2iB  Hiftory  of  Hannah.         Lect.  XVIL 

the  Lord.'*  The  tongues  of  the  prophets  are  many  ; 
but  they  all  fpeak  the  fame  language,  they  all  pro- 
nounce one  name.  The  periods  of  their  exiflence  and 
prediftions  were  widely  remote  ;  but  all  meet  in  one 
central  point  of  light,  in  one  aufpicious  inftant,  "  the 
fulnefs  of  tlme,"in  on-e  illuftrious  perfonage,  "to  whom 
all  give  witnefs,"  in  one  commanding  "  purpofe  and 
grace" — the  falvation  of  the  v/orld.  "  God,  who  at 
fundry  times  and  in  divers  manners  fpake  in  time 
pad  unto  the  fathers,  by  the  prophets,  hath  in  thef« 
lafl  days  fpoken  unto  us  by  his  Son,  whom  he  hath 
appointed  heir  of  all  things,  by  whom  alfo  he  made 
the  worlds  ;  who  being  the  brightnefs  of  his  glory, 
and  the  exprefs  image  of  his  perfon,  and  upholding 
all  things  by  the  word  of  his  power,  when  he  had  by 
himfelf  purged  our  fms,  fat  down  on  the  right  hand  of 
the  Majefly  on  high.*'  *  Behold  all  created  glory 
thus  abforbsd  in  one  glorious,  divine  perfon,  "  who 
is  above  all,  and  through  all,  and  in  all."  "  Where- 
fore God  alfo  hath  highly  exalted  him,  and  given 
him  a  name  which  is  above  every  name  ;  that  at  the 
name  of  Jefus  every  knee  (hould  bovi^,  of  things  in  heav- 
en, and  things  in  earth,  and  things  under  the  earth : 
and  that  every  tongue  fhould  confefs  that  Jefus  Chrifl 
is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father."! 

*  Hcb.  i.  1—^3.  f  Phil.  ii.  9 — 1 1. 


Hlflory 


Hiftory    of   Hannah, 


THE  MOTHER  OF  SAMUEL. 


LECTURE       XVIII. 

1    SAMUEL  i.    24 28. 

And  ivhen  Jhe  had  weaned  hlm^  foe  took  him  up  with 
her,  with  three  bullocks ,  and  one  ephah  of  flour,  and  a 
bottle  of  wine,  and  brought  him  unto  the  houfe  of  ths 
Lord  in  Shiloh.  And  the  child  zvas  young.  And  they 
Jlew  a  bullock,  and  brought  the  child  to  Eli.  And  fr>c 
faid,  0  my  Lord,  as  thy  foul  liv.eth,  my  Lord,  I  cm  the 
woman  that  flood  by  thee  here,  praying  unto  the  Lord. 
For  this  child  I  prayed  ;  and  ths  Lord  hath  given  me  my 
petition  which  I  afked  of  him.  Therefore  alfo  I  havj 
lent  him  to  the  Lord  as  long  as  he  liveth  ;  he  f  jail  be 
lent  to  the  Lord.     And  he  worfhipped  the  Lord  there. 

"jL(ORD,  what  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of 
him,  and  the  fon  of  man,  that  thou  vifitefl  him  V  Ev- 
ery ferious  reflection  on  the  nature,  and  perfections, 
and  works  of  God,  fuggefts  this  rapturous  meditation 
of  the  holy  pfalmilt.  Every  view  of  Deity  is  at  once 
humiliating  and  encouraging  to  the  foul.  We  feem 
to  fhrink  into  nothing,  while  we  contemplate  the  re- 
gions of  unbounded  fpace ;  while  the  eye  wanders 
from  orb  to  orb  ;  and  the  mind  lofes  itfelf  in  calcu- 
iaiing  their  number,  diflances,  magnitude,  luftre  and 

harmony; 


220  Hijiory  of  Hanjiah.  LrcT.  XVII!, 

harmony ;  while  imagmation  wings  its  daring  flight 
to  the  world  of  ipirits,  and  furveys  myriads  of  angels 
adoring  before  the  throne  of  the  Moil  High  ;  and 
"  the  fpirits  of  jufl  men  made  perfect:"  rejoicing 
"  with  joy  unfpeakable  and  full  of  glory."  But  man 
rifes  into  greatnefs  and  importance,  when  we  refleci 
that  "  God  created  him  in  his  own  image  ;"  that  eter- 
nal Providence  exercifes  an  unremitting  folicitude 
about  him  ;  and  that  for  his  redemption  the  Son  of 
God  fuffered  and  died. 

The  httle  concerns  of  individuals,  and  of  private 
families,  acquire  value  and  dignity  when  we  confider 
them  as  ilamped  with  the  feal  of  omnipotence,  a^  the 
operation  of  infinite  wifdom,  as  links  in  the  great 
chain  of  divine  adminiftration,  and  as  extending  their 
influence  to  eternity.  But  deflroy  this  connexion, 
and  we  perceive  only  a  ftrange  and  unaccountable 
fcene  of  vanity,  folly  and  confulion. 

The  holy  fcriptures,  which  exhibit  the  juftefl  rep- 
refentation,  and  enable  us  to  form  the  jufteft  eftimate 
of  human  life,  keep  this  continual  interpoiition  and 
commanding  influence  of  Divine  Providence  conliantly 
in  view.  We  meet  with  domeflic  feelings  and  occur- 
rences exactly  fimilar  to  our  own,  and  we  find  a  proof 
that  the  Bible  is  the  word  of  God,  in  our  own  perfon- 
al,  daily  experience. 

The  tranfatlions  which  led  to  the  fccSne  reprcfented 
in  the  pailage  now  read,  have  been  too  receiitly  fub- 
mitted  to  your  notice,  to  need  repetition.  In  the  fpir- 
it  and  deportment  of  Elkanah  and  Hannah  to  each 
other,  we  have  an  ufeful  example  of  conjugal  compla- 
cency and  aifedion.  In  the  character  of  Hannah,  we 
behold  the  feelings  of  the  woman  fweetly  blended  with 
the  piety  of  the  faint ;  and  the  child  of  forrow  feek- 
ing  and  finding  refuge  in  the  power  and  mercy  of 
God.  We  are  now  to  contemplate  one  of  the  molt 
pleafmg  objeds  that  human  life  prefents — -a  good  and 
honell  heart  in  pofleiTion  of  its  v/ifh,  and  making  the 
proper  ufe  of  the  expected  blefling  ;  the  fpirit  of  pray- 
er 


Lect.  XVIII.  Hijiory  of  Hannah.  11  \ 

er  changed  into  the  fpirit  of  praife,  and  vows  formed 
In  the  hour  of  diftrefs  faithfully  performed. 

Let  our  firft  meditations  turn  on  the  wifdom  and 
goodnefs  of  that  great  Being,  who  has  eftablifhed  hu- 
man felicity  on  fuch  a  folid  foundation  ;  or  rather  has 
drawn  it  from  fo  many  combined  fources.  How  man- 
ifold and  how  tender,  in  particular,  are  the  ties  which 
unite  a  mother  and  her  fon  ?  She  carried  him  in  her 
womb  with  folicitude  and  uneafmefs,  and  brought 
him  into  the  world  at  the  hazard  of  her  life.  She 
fuftained  his  infant  days  with  the  blood  of  her  own 
veins,  and  flumber  was  a  ftranger  to  her  eyes,  that  he 
might  fleep  in  tranquillity.  The  firft  objeft  which  he 
diftinguifhed  was  the  fmiling  face  of  his  guardian  an- 
gel, the  firft  found  that  ftruck  his  opening  ear  was  the 
murmur  of  maternal  affeftion  :  the  firft  idea  he  form- 
ed was  that  of  feeking  refuge  from  want,  and  pain, 
and  danger  in  the  fond  bofom  of  a  parent.  The  very 
anguifh  and  trouble  which  fhe  endured  on  his  account, 
but  endear  him  the  more  to  her ;  a  fenfe  of  early,  af- 
fured  proteclion  "  grows  with  his  growth,  and 
ftrengthens  with  his  ftrength,*'  and  forms  a  bond  of 
mutual  attachment,  which  on  one  fide  is  hardly  to  be 
diffolved,  and  on  the  other,  is  one  of  the  moft  power- 
ful fecurities  againft  the  inroads  of  vice,  and  is  the  laft 
convuliive  gralp  of  expiring  virtue. 

Nature  has  laid  upon  you,  mothers,  the  heavleil 
and  moft  important  part  of  education.  The  good  or 
the  evil  is  already  done,  before  the  child  is  taken  out 
of  your  hands.  Happily  the  weaknefs  of  your  confti- 
tution  is  ftrengthened  and  upheld  for  the  arduous  taik^ 
by  the  force  of  afteftion,  and  your  very  labour  thereby' 
is  rendered  your  delight.  And,  O  how  glorious  is 
your  reward !  you  defire,  you  can  defire  none  higher, 
than  to  fee  your  fon,  the  fon  of  your  womb,  tht  fon 
of  your  vows,  remembering  and  pradifing  the  early 
leflbns  which  his  mother  taught  him. 

How  happy  was  Eli  in  having  for  a  pupil,  a  child 
fuckled,  and  weaned,  and  iiiftrufted  in  early  life,  by  a 

Hauniili ' 


222  Hijlory  cf  Hannah*  Lect.  XVIII. 

Hannah  1  I  low  great  the  goodncfs  of  the  compaflion- 
ate  and  merciful  Father  of  all,  who  by  means  fo  fimple, 
fo  pleafant,  lb  powerful,  fo  cffedual,  makes  conitant 
provifion  for  the  comfort,  the  protection  and  the  im- 
provement of  man ! 

Let  us  proceed  to  meditate,  for  a  moment  on  the 
amiable  and  inilrudive  pattern  here  fet  before  us,  of 
u  faithful  and  obedient  heart.  Diftrefs  naturally  dic- 
tates wifhes,  and  prayers,  and  vows  ;  it  makes  us  fen- 
lible  of  fubjeciion  and  dependence ;  but  when  the 
bleiUng  is  obtained,  the  load  removed,  and  the  hour 
of  performance  come,  men  are  as  forgetful  and  as 
nip;oardly  as  once  thty  were  attentive  and  liberal. 
Ten  lepers  were  cleanfed,  but  "  where  are  the  nine  ?*' 
Has  onz  only  returned  to  give  thanks  ?  Ingratitude  is 
one  of  thofe  crimes  which  no  man  is  either  bold  or  de- 
praved enough  to  defend,  but  with  which  all  men  are 
V-iltly  chargeable.  How  few  earthly  benefactors  but 
have  reafon  to  complain  of  an  ungracious  return  i* 
How  few  parents  but  have  that  bitternefs  of  bitternefs, 
f.lial  ingratitude,  mingled  in  their  cup  ?  How  verily 
guilty  is  a  whole  "  world  lying  in  wickednefs,"  before 
God,  in  this  refpeCt  ?  There  is  really  no  merit  in 
gratitude,  but  what  arifes  from  its  rarity  ;  and  that 
rarity  (lamps  it  one  of  the  highell  of  moral  virtues. 
Would  it  be  doing  injuftice  to  the  other  fex,  to  fay, 
that  gratitude  is  a  quality  more  frequently  to  be  found 
11  the  female  charader  ?  I  have  no  heiitation  in  af- 
firming, that  it  is  one  of  the  moll  powerful  attractions 
in  any  character,  and  that  all  other  attractions  what- 
ever are  good  for  nothing  without  it. 

We  obferved  formerly  in  the  conduCt  of  Hannah  a 
happy  mixture  of  piety  and  prudence.  While  the 
itate  of  her  child  confined  her  to  Mount  Ephraim,  it 
vrould  have  been  the  reverfe  of  a  religious  fervice  to 
repair  to  the  feaft  at  Shiloh  ;  when  he  could  with 
Jafetv  be  removed  to  the  place  of  God*s  prefence,  to 
keep  him  back  had  been  unfaithfulnefs  and  impiety. 
Prudence  without  piety  will  quickly  degenerate  into 

felfilhncfs 


Lect,  XVIII.  Hijiory  of  Hannah.  223 

felfiihnefs  and  the  love  of  this  world  ;  will  harden  the 
heart,  and  lull  the  confcience  afleep.  Piety  without 
prudence  will  infpire  pride  and  intolerance  ;  will  lead 
to  idlenefs  and  irregularity  in  conduft  ;  and,  out  of 
an  affeded  zeal  for  the  firft  table  of  the  lav/,  will  erafe 
the  characters  of  the  fecond,  or  through  negligence 
and  difufe,  fufFer  them  to  be  disfigured  by  filth,  or 
corrupted  and  impaired  by  ruft,  fo  as  to  become  at 
length  wholly  illegible.  V/here  piety  and  prudence 
are  found  united,  the  love  of  God  and  man  will  per- 
fedlly  confift ;  both  tables  of  the  law  \vill  be  equally 
clear  and  diflindt,  and  their  combined  influence  will 
inftruft  the  perfcn  by  whom  it  is  felt  and  underftood, 
to  "  ufe  the  world  fo  as  not  to  abufe  it.'* 

At  length  the  time  of  prefenting  herfelf  before  the 
Lord,  and  of  performing  her  vow  arrives.  The  prec- 
ious child  mufl  be  no  longer  her's,  but  God's.  And 
did  he  indeed  ceafe  to  be  the  parents,  by  being  dedi- 
cated to  the  Moft  High  ?  Surely  no,  he  became  theirs 
by  a  firmer  and  more  facred  tie,  they  have  an  intereit 
in  him  unknown,  unfelt  before.  Their  treafure  has 
acquired  infinite  value  from  the  place  in  which  it  is 
depofited ;  and  attendance  at  God's  altar  has  confer- 
red nobility  on  the  Httle  Levite,  which  all  the  pof- 
feffions  on  Mount  Ephraim  could  not  countervail. 

Hannah  prefented  herfelf  before  the  Lord  at  a  for- 
mer folemnity  with  bitter  crying  and  tears ;  fiie 
*'  went  forth  then  weeping,  bearing  precious  feed,  (he 
cometh  again  rejoicing,  bringing  her  fheaves  with 
her;  for  they  that  fow  in  tears  fhall  reap  in. joy." 
She  prefents  heifelf  before  the  Lord,  but  neither  with 
a  contracted  heart  nor  an  empty  hand.  The  law  de- 
manded for  God  the  firll-born  of  every  creature. 
The  whole  tribe  of  which  Samuel  was  a  fon.,  was  ac- 
cepted in  place  of  the  firft-born  of  all  Ifrael,  znd.  the 
firft-born  of  her  family  might  be  redeemed  by  the 
fublUtution  of  a  vitlim.  Thus  clearly  was  the  fpirit 
of  the  gofpel  inculcated  by  the  inflitutions  of  the 
law ;  and  the  doctrine  of  the  atonement  through  the 

blood 


224  Ihjhry  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XVIII. 

blood  of  the  "  Lamb  flain  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world,"  was  taught  unto  them  as  it  is  taught  unto 
us.  lliroughoul  we  fee  the  innocent  fuffering  for 
the  guilty  ;  from  the  facrifice  of  Abel  down  to  the 
facrifice  on  Mount  Calvary,  of  '*  the  juft  fuffering  for 
the  urijuft,  that  he  might  bring  us  unto  God.'* 

With  what  mixed  emotions  mull  an  Ifraelitilh  par- 
ent, of  any  fenfibility,  have  prefented  this  facrifice  ? 
Behold  the  darhng  child,  the  firft-born  led  to  the  altar, 
but  not  to  bleed  and  die  :  no,  that  innocent  lamb, 
that  bullock  in  the  prime  of  life,  is  to  bleed  and  die 
in  his  ftead ;  and,  mournful  to  refleft,  though  rehg- 
ion  does  not  now  demand  fuch  facriiices,  neceffity 
and  the  appetites  of  men  conflantly  require  them,  and 
we  behold  the  whole  brute  "  creation  groaning  and 
iraveliing  in  pain  together,**  to  perform  the  drudgery, 
miniiier  to  the  pleafure,  or  with  their  flefh  to  fatisfy 
the  need  of  a  creature  much  more  criminal  than  them- 
fclves  ;  and,  as  if  that  were  too  little,  fubjecled  to  the 
cruelty  and  caprice  of  rational  beings,  become  greater 
brutes  than  themfelves. 

With  the-  confidence  of  true  goodnefs  Hannah  now 
addreifes  Eli,  and  reminds  him  of  what  he  had  proba- 
bly forgotten,  but  was  of  too  much  moment  to  her- 
felf  ever  to  be  permitted  to  fall  into  oblivion.  Eli 
had  only  feen  her  lips  move,  but  heard  not  the  words 
ihe  pronounced  ;  and  the  violent  emotion  in  which 
file  was,  had  conveyed  very  foul  fufpicions  to  his 
mind.  Thefe,  with  the  dignity  and  calmnefs  of  con- 
fcious  innocence,  (lie  repelled  ;  and  alTured  him  in 
general  terms  that  what  he  had  unkindly  miflaken 
for  the  effeti  of  wine,  was  the  agitadon  of  an  afflifted 
fpirit,  pouring  out  its  anguilh  before  God  ;  but  the 
fubjeci:  of  her  prayer  fhe  Itiil  kept  within  her  own 
bread.  There  was  then  no  witneis  of  her  vow  but 
God  and  her  own  confcience ;  and  that  was  enough  ; 
it  was  recorded  in  heaven  ;  and  an  honed  mind  will 
iind  itfelf  equally  bound  by  a  refolution  formed  in  fe- 
cret,  as  by  an  oath  adminiftcred  in  the  face  of  an  ailem- 

bled 


Lect.  XVIII.  Hi/iory  of  Hannab.  225 

bled  world.  With  what  holy  exultation  does  ihe 
now  declare  her  engagement,  exhibit  the  facred  pledge 
of  it,  and  proceed  to  the  public  and  foiemn  difcharge 
of  it !  "  She  brought  the  child  to  Eli,  and  faid,  O  my 
lord,  as  thy  foul  liveth,  my  lord,  I  am  the  woman  that 
flood  by  thee  here,  praying  unto  the  Lord.  For  this 
child  I  prayed  ;  and  the  Lord  hath  given  me  my  peti- 
tion which  I  afked  of  him.'**  How  fweetly  atfefting 
are  the  effufions  of  nature,  when  aided  and  animated 
by  devotion  !  How  rehgion  ennobles  and  dignifies  ev- 
ery charader,  how  it  places  every  other  quality  in  its 
faired  and  moft  favourable  point  of  view !  How  well 
it  is  adapted  to  every  feafon  and  fituation  of  life  !  It 
was  this  which  fortified  Hannah  againft  the  bitter  in- 
fults  and  reproaches  of  her  mercilefs  adverfary,  and 
preferved  her  from  rendering  railing  for  raihng.  It 
was  this  which  taught  her  felf-government,  fo  that 
Ihe  difhurbed  not  the  folemnity  of  the  feaft  with  wom- 
anifli  complaints,  but  covered  a  forrowful  heart  with  a 
ferene  countenance.  It  was  this  which  carried  her  to 
the  houfe  of  the  Lord,  for  light,  comfort  and  rehef.  It 
was  this  which  carried  her  with  reputation  and  advan- 
tage through  the  firft  duties  of  a  mother  ;  and  exhib- 
ited, in  one,  the  affectionate  wife,  the  tender  parent, 
the  devout  worfhipper.  This  filled  her  heart  and 
infpired  her  tongue,  in  prefenting  her  offering,  in  ad- 
dreffing  the  high-priell,  in  raifmg  her  fong  of  praife. 
And  this  will  communicate  luftre,  value  and  import- 
ance on  every  female  charafter,  whether  known  to 
the  world,  or  overlooked  by  it  ;  in  the  fecrecy  of  the 
family,  or  in  the  celebrity  of  the  temple.  There  is 
a  God  who  "  feeth  in  fecret,  and  will  reward  openly." 
Eli  repeats  a  cordial  ^7nen  to  her  pious  purpofe, 
accepts  the  precious  trufl  committed  unto  him,  and 
bends  his  knees  in  joyful  acknowledgment  of  that 
God  who  had  been  multiplying  his  mercy  to  this  fam- 
ily, and  building  up  the  houfe  of  Ifrael.  And  it  is 
not  long  before  he  finds  that  this  young  Nazarene 
Vol.  VI.  P  was 

*  Verfe  25 — 27. 


'226  ili/iory  of  Hannah,         Lect.  XVIIt 

was  provided  of  God,  and  inflrufted  of  his  mother,  to 
redify  the  diforders  of  his  own  houfe,  and  to  fupply 
the  place  of  a  degenerate  race  of  priefts,  ripe  for  de- 
flruftion  and  doomed  to  it,  and  ready  to  bring  down 
a  "father's  grey  hairs  with  forrow  to  the  grave.'* 

Hannah's  fong  of  praife,  which  follows  at  length  in 
the  opening  of  the  next  chapter,  merits,  on  many  ac- 
counts, a  feparate  and  particular  confideration.  It 
poiTeffes  all  the  majefty,  grace  and  beauty  of  ancient 
oriental  poetry.  It  is  one  of  the  happieft  effufions  of 
an  excellent  female  heart  labouring  under  a  grateful 
fenfe  of  the  higheil  obligations.  It  prefents  and  im- 
prefies  fome  of  the  jufteft  and  mofl:  interefting  views 
of  Divine  Providence,  and,  what  is  above  all,  it  dif- 
clofes  one  of  the  cleaieft  and  mofl  diftind:  profpeds  of 
the  coming,  perfon  and  charafter  of  Mejfiah,  the 
Prophet  of  prophets.  King  of  kings.  Lord  of  lords. 
Yes,  chriftians,  for  this  prophetefs  was  referved  the 
honour  of  firit  pronouncing  in  facred  fong,  that 
*'  name  which  is  as  ointment  poured  forth,"  which 
angels  mention  with  wonder  and  reverence,  and  which 
the  whole  company  of  the  redeemed  fhall  one  day 
proclaim  v/ith  "  joy  unipeakable  and  full  of  glory  ;'* 
Messiah  the  anointed  of  the  Lord — whom  the  world 
fo  ior.g  expefted,  who  in  the  fulnefs  of  time  appeared, 
"whom  unbelieving  Jews  refufed  to  acknowledge  j 
whom  they  defpifed,  rejeded,  crucified,  and  put  to 
death  ;  whom  "  God  has  exalted  a  Prince  and  Saviour 
to  give  repentance  and  the  remilTionof  fms ;"  to  whofe 
fecond  coming  the  courfe  of  nature,  the  evolutions  of 
providence,  the  hopes  and  fears  of  every  heart  of  man, 
the  earnefl  expedation  of  the  creature,  and  the  hand- 
writing of  God  in  fcripture,  all,  all  direclly  point. 

The  next  Lefture  will  be  an  attempt  to  illuftrate, 
and  practically  to  improve  Hannah's  fong  of  praife. 
May  we  bring  to  it  a  portion  of  that  fpirit  which  in- 
fpired  the  lips  of  her  who  fung,  and  direOed  the  pen 
of  him  who  wrote.  Let  me  conclude  the  prefent, 
■with  calling  on  every  one  prefent,  to  recolledt  perfonal 

obligations. 


Lect.  XVIII.  Hijlory  cf  Hannah.  227 

obligations,  and  to  v/alk  fuitably  to  them.  Call  to 
remembrance  vov/s  form.ed  on  a  bed  of  languifhing, 
in  the  hour  of  difficulty,  in  the  inftant  of  danger,  at  the 
table  of  the  Lord  ;  and  thankfully  pay  them  :  as 
knowing  that  "it  is  better  not  to  vow,  than  to  vow 
and  not  to  pay.'* 

Defire  more  earneflly  the  bed  gifts  ;  fpiritual,  heav- 
enly, eternal  bleffings.  By  all  means,  in  your  vows, 
flipulate  for  your  portion  of  prefent  and  temporal  good 
things,  faying  with  Jacob,  "  If  God  will  be  with  me, 
and  will  keep  me  in  this  v/ay  that  I  go,  and  will  give 
me  bread  to  eat,  and  raiment  to  put  on,  fo  that  I 
come  again  to  my  father's  houfe  in  peace,  then  ihall 
the  Lord  be  my  God ;"  *— and  with  Hannah,  pouring 
out  the  bitternefs  of  an  opprelTed  heart  before  God, 
and  begging  relief  of  the  Father  of  mercies,  faying, 
"  O  Lord  of  Hofls,  if  thou  wilt  indeed  look  on  the 
affliction  of  thine  handmaid,  and  remember  me,  and 
not  forget  thine  handmaid."  But  forget  not  withal, 
to  ftipulate,  with  Solomon,  for  "  an  underftanding 
heart,"  to  prize  and  to  improve  mercies  already  be- 
llowed ;  and  with  Jabez,  calling  on  the  God  of  Ifrael, 
faying,  "  Oh  that  thou  wouldetl  blefs  me  indeed,-— 
and  that  thine  hand  might  be  with  me,  and  that  thou 
wouldeft  keeo  me  from  evil  that  it  may  not  grieve 
me." 

Hannah  promifed  to  devote  to  the  Lord  the  child 
which  fhould  be  given  her  ;  and  ye  have  foiemnly 
engaged  to  yield  yourfelves  unto  God  ;  and  "  ye  are 
not  your  own,  for  ye  are  bought  with  a  price."  "  I 
befeech  you  therefore,  brethren,  by  the  mercies  of 
God,  that  ye  prefent  your  bodies  a  living  facrifice, 
holy,  acceptable  unto  God,  which  is  your  reafonable 
fervice.  And  be  not  conformed  to  this  world  :  but 
be  ye  transformed  by  the  renewing  of  your  mind, 
that  ye  may  prove  what  is  that  good  and  acceptable 
and  perfect  will  of  God."t 

*  Gen.  xxviii.  2C,  21.  f  Rom.  xii.  i,  2. 

P  2  Hiflory 


Hiftory  of  Hannah, 


THE  MOTHER  OF  SAMUEL. 


LECTURE      XIX. 


I    SAMUEL  11.    I 10. 

And  Hannah  prayed,  and /aid.  My  heart  rejoiceth  in  the 
Lord :  mine  horn  is  exalted  in  the  Lord,  my  mouth  is 
enlarged  over  fuine  enemies :  hecaufe  I  rejoice  in  thy 
fahation.  There  is  none  holy  as  the  Lord :  for  there  is 
none  hefide  thee  :  neither  is  there  any  rock  like  our  God. 
Talk  no  more  fo  exceeding  proudly ;  let  not  arrogancy 
come  out  of  your  mouth  :  for  the  Lord  is  a  God  ofknowl- 
idge,  and  by  him  aBions  are  weighed.  The  bows  of 
the  7nighty  men  are  broken,  and  they  that  fiumbled  are 
girded  withftre?igth.  They  that  zuere  full  have  hired 
out  thenfelves  for  bread ;  and  they  that  were  hungry 
ceafed  ;  fo  that  the  barren  hath  bornfeven  :  and/he 
that  hath  many  children  is  waxed  feeble.  The  Lord 
killeth,  and  makcth  alive  :  he  bringeth  down  to  the 
grave,  and  bringeth  up.  The  Lord  maketh  poor,  and 
maketh  rich  :  he  bringeth  low,  and  lifteth  up.  He  raif- 
eth  up  the  poor  out  of  the  dufi,  and  lifteth  up  the  beggar 
fro7n  the  dunghill,  tofet  them  a?nong  princes ,  and  to  make 
them  inherit  the  throne  of  glory  :  for  the  pillars  of  the 
earth  are  the  Lord's,  and  he  hath  fet  the  world  upon 
ihem.  He  will  keep  the  feet  of  his  faints,  and  the  wick- 
ed Jhall  be  filent  in  darknefs  :  for  by  Jirength  jball  na 

man 


^^ECT.XIX.  Hi/iory  of  HannaJu  e29 

man  prevail.  The  adverfaries  of  the  Lord  fhall  be 
broken  to  pieces  :  out  of  heaven  fhall  he  thunder  upon 
them  :  the  Lord  fhall  judge  the  ends  of  the  earth  ;  and 
he  foall  give  firength  unto  his  king,  and  exalt  the  horn 
'of  his  anointed. 

In  man,  the  inafler-plece  of  creation,  are  difcernlble 
various  kinds  of  life,  diftind;  from  each  other,  yet  moll 
■wonderfully  blended  and  united,  fo  as  to  form  one 
great  and  ailonilhing  whole.  The  animal,  the  intel- 
ledual,  the  moral  life  :  to  which  we  add,  in  man  as 
he  came  from  the  hands  oi  his  Creator,  and  in  man 
"  renewed**  by  grace  "  in  the  fpirit  of  his  mind,"  the 
fpiritual  and  divine  life,  the  dawning  light,  the  earned 
and  pledge,  the  celeflial  foretafle  of  everlafling  life. 

The  firfl  of  thefe  we  enjoy  in  common  with  the 
beads  that  perifh.  Like  theirs,  our  bodies  grow  and 
decline.  Like  them  we  are  led  by  fenfe  and  appetite, 
and  are  fufceptible  of  pleafure  and  pain.  And,  like 
them,  we  arofe  out  of  the  earth,  are  fupported  by 
,it,  and  feel  ourfelves  returning  to  it  again. 

The  fecond,  or  intellectual  hfe,  raifes  man  far  above 
every  other  animaL  He  pofleffes  the  power  of  thought, 
that  produdive  faculty  of  the  Almighty ;  that  image 
of  God  in  our  nature.  He  contemplates,  compares, 
reflects,  reafons,  plans,  performs.  By  means  of  this 
he  exercifes  dominion  over  all  other  creatures.  In- 
ferior to  many,  in  fome  .refpe£ts,  by  this  he  renders 
himfelf  fuperior  to  all ;  and  reduces  all  their  powers 
to  the  fubjedion  and  obedience  of  himfelf. 

The  moral  life  places  man  in  fociety  ;  connects  him 
with  intelligent  beings  like  himfelf;  opens  a  capacious 
field  of  duty  and  of  enjoyment ;  llamps  him  an  obje6t 
of  approbation  or  blame,  of  reward  or  punifli- 
ment. 

The  divine  life  unites  man  to  the  Author  and 
fiipporter  of  his  exiitence,  the  fource  of  all  his  com- 
forts, the  foundation  of  all  his  hopes ;  the  witnefs 
and  the  judge  of  all  his  adions)    the  avenger  of  al.1 

unrighteoufnefs. 


S3<5  Hijiory  of  Hannah.  LecT.  XIX. 

unrighteoufnefs,  "  the  rewarder  of  them   who  dili- 
gently feek  him.'* 

To  Adam,  as  an  animal,  God  faid,  "  Be  fruitful, 
and  multiply,  and  replenifh  the  earth  :  behold  I  have 
given  you  every  herb  bearing  feed,  which  is  upon  the 
face  of  all  the  earth  ;  and  every  tree  in  the  which  is 
the  fruit  of  a  tree,  yielding  feed  ;  to  you  it  fhall  be 
for  meat.** 

In  Adam  the  intelleftual  life  difcovered  Itfelf,  when 
the  Lord  God  brought  unto  him  "  every  beaft  of  the 
field,  and  every  fowl  of  the  air,  to  fee  what  he  would 
call  them  ;  and  whatfoever  Adam  called  every  living 
creature,  that  was  the  name  thereof." 

— God  having  implanted  a  principle  of  moral  life 
in  man,  faid,  "  It  is  not  good  that  the  man  fliould  be 
alone ;  I  will  make  him  an  help  meet  for  him  ;'*  he 
took  the  man,  and  put  him.  into  the  garden  of  Eden, 
to  drefs  it  and  to  keep  it  ;  and  commanded  the  man, 
faying.  Of  every  tree  of  the  garden  thou  mayeft  freely 
eat :  but  of  the  tree  of  the  knowledge  of  good  and 
evil,  thou  Ihalt  not  eat  of  it.  For  in  the  day  that  thou 
eatefl  thereof,  thou  flialt  furely  die.** 

In  Adam  the  fpirltual  and  divine  life  was  perfected, 
when  "  God  created  man  in  his  own  image.'*  It 
was  extinguifKed  and  loft  when  by  tranfgreffion  he 
fell  ;  it  was  revived  by  the  promife  of  the  Mefliah  and 
falvation  through  his  blood ;  and  it  will  be  complete- 
ly recovered  when  the  image  of  God  is  reitored 
through   the  fpirit  of  fanftification. 

All  thefe  different  kinds  of  life  have  their  feveral 
?.nd  correfponding  expreffions  ;  and  according  as 
any  one  prevails,  fuch  is  the  character  of  the  man. 
When  the  habitual  cry  is,  "What  fliall  I  eat,  what 
fliall  I  drink,  and  wherewithal  fnall  I  be  cioathed  ?'* 
it  is  eafy  to  determine  what  life  is  predominant  : 
it  is  eafy  to  difcern  when  the  brute  runs  away  with  the 
man.  Solomon  may  be  given  as  an  infcance  of  the 
prevalence  of  intelleclual  life.  He  looked  through 
nature,  and  "  fpake  of  trees,  from  the  cedar-tree  that 

■  is 


tLECT.  XIX.  Hi/lory  of  Hannah.  231 

is  in  Lebanon,  even  unto  the  hyiTop  that  fpiingefh 
out  of  the  wall ;  he  fpake  2X10  of  beafls,  and  of  fowls, 
and  of  creeping  things,  and  of  fifnes.**     *'  His  wifdorii 
excelled  the  wifdom  of  all  the   children  of  the   eaft 
country,  and  all  the  wifdom  of  Egypt."     The  pfalm- 
ift  has   prefented  us  with  an   exquifite  reprefentation 
of  the  moral  life  of  man,  (would  to  God  it  were  more 
frequently  realized)  in  the  fifteenth  pfalm  ;  "  He  that 
walketh   uprightly,  and  worketh   righteoufnefs,   and 
fpeaketh    the    truth    in    his    heart.      He    that    back- 
biteth     not     with      his     tongue,     nor    doeth    evil 
to    his    neighbour,     nor     taketh     up     a    reproach 
againft    his     neighbour  ;      in    whofe    eyes     a     vile 
perfon  is  conteamed  :  :but  he  honoureth   them   that 
fear  the  Lord  :  he  that  fwecreth  to  his  own  hurt,  and 
changeth  not.     He  that  putteth  not  out  his  money  to 
ufury,  nor  taketh  reward  againft  the  innocent.     He 
that   doeth    thefe   things    Ihall    never   be    moved."* 
Where  fhall  v/e  look  for  an  example  of  the  higheft. 
life  of  man,  the  life  of  God  in  the  foul  ?  Nature 
Hands  filent,  the  v^hole  world  lies  dead  ;  it  prefents 
every  kind  of  life  but  this.     Where  is  the  model  to 
which  to  refer  ?  Where  is  the  idea  of  this  moft  exalt- 
ed excellence  of  our  nature  ?  It  is  to  be  found.     ''  I 
came  not  to  do  mine  own  will,  but  the  will  of  him 
that  fent  me."     "  I  feek  not  mine  own  glory,  but  the 
glory  of  him  who   fent  me."     Read  and  ponder  the 
ieventeenth   chapter  of  John's  gofpel,  and  difcover 
the  author,  the  example,  the  giver  of  this  divine  life,^ 
and  afpire  after  a  participation  of  it. 

We  have  fome  of  thefe  holy  afpirations  In  the  paf- 
fage  now  read.  We  behold  a  fpirit  alive  unto  God  ; 
finking  the  creature  in  the  Creator  j  difcerning  God 
in  every  objecl,  and  in  every  event  that  arifes  ;  refer- 
ring all  things  to  Him  "  who  doth  according  to  his 
will  in  the  armies  of  heaven,  and  among  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  earth."  Let  us  blend  our  fpirits,  with 
that  of  pious  Hannah,  and  may  God  grant  us  to  know 

an4 
*  Vfr.  2 — ^. 


:S32  Hijiory  cf  Hannah.  Lect.  XIX. 

and  feel  the  happinefs  of  having  fellowfhip  with  the 
Father,  and  with  his  Son  Jefus  Chrilt. 

"  Hannzh  prayed."  In  afilidlion  (he  prayed  :  and 
in  profperitv  (he  prayed.  I'ears  and  fmiles  are  not 
more  the  expreffion  of  their  correfponding  emotions, 
than  fupphcation  and  thankfgiving  are  of  that  life 
which  dictates  them,  in  a  fuitablenefs  to  the  various 
afpefts  of  Divine  Providence.  Sorrow  is  no  longer 
forrow  when  it  is  poured  out  into  the  bofom  of  fym- 
pathy  and  tendernefs.  Every  joy  is  multiplied  an 
hundred  fold  by  every  communication  of  it  to  the  ear 
and  the  heart  of  friendfhip.  Hannah  prays,  "  and 
her  countenance  is  no  more  fad."  She  rellores  her 
earneflly  expected  fon  to  God  ;  and  is  infinitely  en- 
riched by  the  reflitution.  Whether  the  child  cry  for 
relief,  or  exprefs  its  gratitude  by  carelTes  and  looks 
of  fatisfaftion,  it  is  equally  grateful  and  foothing  to 
the  fond  parental  heart.  And  will  the  great  God 
in  very  deed  vouchfafe  to  make  himfelf  known  to  us 
by  the  name  of  the  hearer  of  prayer  ?  Is  he  exalted  to 
fhew  mercy  .'*  Can  he  be  pleafed  with  the  effufions  of  a 
thankful  heart  ?  Thoughtlefs,  inconfiderate  creatures 
that  we  are  ;  blind  to  our  higheft  intereft,  dead  to 
cur  pureft  joy  !  We  fee  nothing  of  God  in  that  diftrefs, 
in  that  deliverance.  We  attended  to  the  creature 
only,  and  therefore  found  no  comfort.  We  endured 
without  hope,  and  we  enjoyed  without  relifh.  Happy 
foul,  that  can  command  itfelf  to  peace,  and  fay,  I  have 
poured  out  my  anguifh  before  the  Lord,  I  have  cafl 
all  my  care  upon  him,  my  burden  is  no  longer  mine, 
but  his.  "  Return  unto  thy  reft,  O  my  foul,  for  the 
Lord  hath  dealt  bountifully  with  thee.  He  hath  de- 
livered my  foul  from  death,  mine  eyes  from  tears,  and 
ray  feet  from  falling." 

In  the  firfl  tranfports  oi  her  joy,  Hannah  forgets 
ever}'-  thing  but  the  glorious  objetl  of  it.  The  in- 
fults  of  Peninnah,  her  delight  in  Samuel,  ftand  for  a 
while  fufpended ;  they  are  loft  and  forgotten  in  the 
contemplation  of  Him,  who  had  delivered  her  from 

the 


Lect.  XIX.  Hlflory  of  Hannah.  -©33 

the  one,  and  beftowed  the  other  upon  her.  But  God, 
as  he  is  in  himfelf,  cannot  long  be  an  objed:  of  con- 
templation to  mortals.  It  is  only  by  what  he  doth, 
that  he  can  be  known,  and  loved,  and  enjoyed  by  us. 
The  foul  fprings  up  to  God,  is  inftantly  repelled  and 
overwhelmed  by  "  light  inaccefiible  and  full  of  glory," 
and  feeks  relief  and  employment  in  furveying  the 
ways  and  works  of  God. 

"  My  heart  rejoiceth  in  the  Lord.'*  But  "  who  is 
this  King  of  glory  ?'*  The  fpirit  fhrinks  with  reve- 
rence from  the  inquiry  ;  and  the  heart  fweetly  Aides 
into  the  obfervation  and  acknowledgment  of  what  an 
incomprehenfible  Jehovah  hath  done.  "  Mine  horn 
is  exalted  in  the  Lord.'*  *'  The  horn,"  in  fcripture 
language,  is  the  emblem  of  flrength  and  empire.  She 
was  till  now  undiftinguifhed,  unprized,  unimportant 
in  Ifrael ;  a  wife,  without  the  honour  of  being  a 
mother.  But  now  fhe  has  rifen  into  luftre,  and  place, 
and  pre-eminence.  Her  Samuel  is  to  her  "  a  crown  of 
glory,  and  a  diadem  for  beauty  !"  She  had  power  with 
God  and  prevailed ;  fhe  aiked,  and  God  granted  her 
requeft.  This  is  naturally  blended  in  her  mind,  with 
the  derifion  and  cruel  mocking  which  fhe  had  endur- 
ed. For  the  very  devotions  of  fallen  creatures  mufl 
favour  of  the  calamities  to  which  they  are  expofed,  and 
the  imperfection  in  which  they  are  involved.  Both 
nature  and  piety  accordingly  concur  in  dilating  the 
expreflion  of  thankfulnefs  which  follows ;  "  My  mouth 
is  enlarged  over  mine  enemies  :"  Here  the  woman 
fpeaks  ;  but  the  faint  inftantly  fubjoins,  "  becaufe  I 
rejoice  in  thy  falvation." 

When  the  hfe  of  God  is  completely  formed  in  the 
foul,  every  particle  of  human  corruption  fhall  be  purg- 
ed away.  There  fhall  be  no  feeling,  nor  recollection, 
of  unkindnefs  or  enmity.  And  in  proportion  as  evil 
affeftions  are  rooted  out,  and  kind  affeftions  are  im- 
planted, cheriflied,  and  promoted,  fo  is  the  image 
of  God  imprefled,  renewed  and  preferved.     The  love 

of 


234  Hi/lory  of  Hamiab.  Lect.  XIX. 

of  God  perfeded  fliall  obliterate  and  efface  every  trace 
of  refentment  agalnft  man. 

After  a  fhort  vibration  on  this  firing,  the  heart  of 
the  worfhipper  feenis  to  recur  with  increafed  compla- 
cency and  delight  to  a  worthier  fubjed  of  meditation, 
and  lofes  itfelf  in  infinite  perfection.  "  There  is  none 
holy  as  the  Lord ;  for  there  is  none  befide  thee  ; 
neither  is  there  any  rock  like  our  God."  When  we 
attempt  to  meditate  upon  God,  thought  fails.  When 
we  attempt  to  addrefs  ourfelveg  to  him,  language 
fails.  In  vain  do  we  lo6k  round  for  a  fimilitude  that 
may  enable  us  to  form  a  clearer  perception  of  his 
nature.  It  is  his  glory  to  be  fingle  and  alone  ;  to 
defy  and  prevent  every  idea  of  refemblance  or  com- 
parifon.  When  the  whole  world  of  nature  is  explor- 
ed, when  all  the  powers  of  nature  are  exhaufled,  the 
foul  falls  back,  upon  itfelf,  flirinks  into  nothing  from 
the  daring  attempt,  and  exclaims,  "  There  is  none 
befide  thee,"  "  there  is  none  holy  as  the  Lord." 
'^'  Who  can  find  out  the  Almighty  unto  perfefliion  I" 

— Hannah  awakes  from  this  holy  rapture,  to  con- 
template this  incomprehenfible  Jehovah,  as  exercifmg 
an  intelligent,    uncontrollable,    irrefiftible   authority 
over  all  the  ways  of  men  ;   as  the  wife  and  righteous 
Governor  of  the  world,  v/hom  none  can  fuccefsfullv 
oppofe,  from  whofe  notice  none  can  poffibly  conceal 
himfelf.     "  Talk  no   more  fo    exceeding    proudly ; 
let  not  arrogancy  come  out  of  your  mouth  :  for  the 
Lord  is  a  God  of  knowledge,  and  by  him  actions  are 
•weighed.     The  bows  of  the  mighty  men  are  broken, 
and  they  that   flumbled  are   girded  with  flrength."* 
Behold  the  cure  of  pride.     There  is  a  God  on  high, 
from  Vv'hom   defcended   every  advantage  which  one 
pofTefTes  above  another,  who  carefully  notes  the  ufc 
that  is  made  of  his  benefits,  and  will  demand  an  ac- 
count of  them  ;  who  "  feeth  the  proud  afar  off,  but 
has  refpect   unto  the  lowly."     "  By  him   actions  are 
Tueigbed ;'*    they  are  judged,  not  according  to  their 

apparent 

*  Verfe  3,  4. 


Lect.  XIX.  Hifiory  of  Hannah.  235 

apparent  circumftances,  nor  the  maxims  of  the  world, 
nor  the  rank  of  the  parties  concerned,  but  according 
to  truth,  according  to  the  real  merit  or  demerit  of  the 
aftion,  according  to  the  thoughts  and  intent  of  the 
heart.  Thus  is  the  mouth  of  arrogancy  effeftually 
(hut,  and  the  whole  world  laid  low  in  the  duft  before 
a  holy  and  righteous  God.  "  The  bows  of  the  migh- 
ty men  are  broken,  and  they  that  ftumbled  are  girt 
with  ftrength."  Even  in  this  world,  "  the  Lord 
maketh  himfelf  known  by  the  judgments  which  he 
executes  ;"  and  caufeth  men  to  change  conditions, 
and  turneth  the  world  upfide  down.  The  affairs  of 
men,  like  the  frame  of  nature,  are  in  a  ftate  of  per- 
petual revolution,  and  the  hifiory  of  mankind  is  fim- 
ply  an  account  of  the  rife  and  deprefTion  of  wretched 
mortals  by  means  not  of  their  own  contrivance,  by 
events  which  they  could  not  forefee,  and  over  which 
.they  had  no  power.  The  victor  of  to  day  is  to-mor- 
row a  captive,  and  he  who  now  lieth  "^  among  the 
pots,  fhail  come  forth  as  the  wings  of  a  dove  covered 
with  filver,  and  her  feathers  with   yellow  gold." 

The  greater  part  of  Hannah's  fong  of  praife  is  em- 
ployed in  making  a  more  enlarged  difplay  of  the 
wifdom  and  juflice  of  the  Divine  Providence  in  the 
government  of  the  world.  "  They  that  were  full 
have  hired  themfeU'es  out  for  bread."  Some  are 
born  to  eafe  and  affluence,  and  through  indolence, 
inattention  or  prodigality,  reduce  themfelves  to  want. 
Some  acquire  wealth  by  frugality  and  induftry.  But 
however  gotten,  it  is  but  an  uncertain  pouefTion,  and 
we  daily  fee  multitudes,  not  through  any  apparent 
fault  of  their  own,  "  waxing  poor  and  falling  into 
decay."  Others,  as  unaccountably  rife  into  diftinc- 
tion  and  opulence.  There  is  an  unfeen  hand  which 
gives  and  takes  away.  In  profperity  there  is  no 
ground  of  infolence  and  triumph  ;  in  adverfity  no 
reafon  to  defpair. 

Her  own  peculiar  felicity  again  prefents  itfelf  to  view, 
and  the  incenfe  of  praife  afcends  to  heaven.     "  The 

barrerj 


•^35  Hijlory  of  Hannah,  Lect.  XIX, 

barren  hath  born  feven,  and  fhe  that  hath  many  chil- 
dren is  waxed  feeble.*'  There  is  a  Jewifh  legend 
which  faith,  that  for  every  child  that  Hannah  bore, 
one  of  Peninnah's  died.  It  is  a  mere  conjefture  ; 
Hannah's  triumphant  fong  is  rather  a  proof  of  the 
contrary.  She  difcovers  a  fpirit  too  excellent,  in 
other  refpecls,  to  permit  us  to  fuppofe  her  capable  of 
rejoicing  in  the  devaftation  which  the  hand  of  God 
had  wrought,  much  lefs  in  the  deftruftion  of  her  ow^ 
hufband's  family.  That  heart  muft  be  loft  to  every 
feeling  of  humanity,  loft  to  decency,  loft  to  the  fear 
of  God,  who  can  make  the  calamity  of  another,  efpec- 
ially  fuch  a  calamity,  a  ground  of  felf-gratulation,  and 
complacency,  or  a  fubjed  of  thankfgiving  to  a  holy 
and  merciful  God,  as  if  he  could  become  a  party  to 
our  petty  jealounes  and  contentions.  No,  a  fpirit  fo 
regulated  as  h'crs,  fo  patient  under  mortification,  fo 
long  nurtured  in  the  fchool  of  afflidion,  fo  obfervant 
of,  and  fubmiffive  to  the  will  of  Providence,  could  not 
taile  the  mortality  of  even  Peninnah's  children  as  a 
fource  of  joy.  Her  exprefiions  amount  to  no  more  than 
a  devout  and  humble  acknowledgment -of  unerring 
wifdom,  of  unimpeachable  jufdce,  in  conducing  all 
the  affairs  of  this  world :  in  building  up  famihes,  and 
in  bringing  them  low  ;  in  exercifnig  an  abfolute  right 
of  fovereignty,  which  will  not  be  compelled  to  give 
account  of  its  matters  to  any  one.  The  gift  of  chil- 
dren is  not  always  withheld  in  anger,  nor  beftowed 
in  kindnefs,  as  the  character  and  hiftory  of  Eli's  fami- 
ly v/ill  ihortly  evince. 

She  proceeds  to  purfue  the  fame  idea  of  a  divine 
fuperintendence  in  every  thing,  through  a  variety  of 
particulars  ftvikingly  contralfed  one  with  anothei,  all 
aiming  at  the  fame  end,  all  calculated  to  enforce  the 
fame  pradical  leilon.  "  The  Lord  killeth,  and  mak- 
eth  alive  :  he  bringeth  down  to  the  grave,  and  bring- 
eth  up.  The  Lord  maketh  poor,  and  maketh  rich  : 
he  bringeth  low,  and  lifreth  up.  He  raifeth  up  the 
poor  out  of  the  dufl,  and  lifteth  up  the  beggar  from 

thp 


Lect.  XIX.  Hyiory  of  Haiinah,  i-^j 

the  dunghill,  to  fet  them  among  princes,  and  to  make, 
them  inherit  the  throne  of  glory :  for  the  pillars  of 
the  earth  are  the  Lord's,  and  he  hath  fet  the  world  up- 
on them.  He  will  keep  the  feet  of  his  faints,  and  the 
wicked  fhali  be  filent  in  darknefs  :  for  by  ftrength 
ihall  no  man  prevail."* 

In  the  conclufion  of  her  fong,  Hannah,  rapt  into 
futurity,  no  doubt  by  the  fpirit  of  prophecy,  contem- 
plates the  final  confummation  of  the  great  myftery  of 
Providence,  as  iffuing  in  the  eftablifhment  of  univer- 
fal  order  :  in  the  fuppreffion  and  punifliment  of  vice  ; 
and  in  the  unchangeable  and  permanent  glory  of  a  Re- 
deemer's kingdom.  The  fame  hand  which  balances 
the  fpheres,  which  condufts  all  the  affairs  of  men, 
which  preferves  harmony  and  prevents  confufioxi,  in, 
both  the  natural  and  moral  worlds,  fhall  at  length,  by 
another  almighty  fiat^  "  make  all  things  new."  Then 
"  the  adverfaries  of  the  Lord  fhall  be  broken  to  pieces  : 
out  of  heaven  fhall  he  thunder  upon  them."  "  But 
who  may  abide  the  day  of  his  coming  ?  and  who  fhall 
fland  when  he  appeareth  ?  for  he  is  like  a  refiner's 
lire  ;  and  he  fhall  fit  as  a  refiner  and  purifier  of  filver." 
Chaflifement  fhall,  therefore,  be  preceded  by  right- 
eous judgment,  that  every  mouth  may  be  flopped 
before  God.  "  The  Lord  fhall  judge  the  ends  of  the 
earth."  Now  thefe  words  of  the  prophetic  mother 
of  Samuel,  taken  in  connexion  with  the  clearer  and 
fuller  difplay  of  a  judgment  to  come,  in  the  WTitings 
of  the  New  Teflament,  clearly  point  out  that  glori- 
ous and  divine  perfon^  in  whofe  hallowed  name  the 
fong  terminates — God's  Anointed.  A  woman  was 
honoured  firfl  to  announce  the  Saviour  of  the  world, 
under  that  defcription  ;  and  a  fucceflion  of  prophets 
henceforward  hold  it  up  to  the  eyes  of  fucceeding  gen- 
erations, as  "all  their  falvation,  and  all  their  deilre." 
Samuel,  David,  llaiah,  Daniel,  Habakkuk,  each  in  his 
day  proclaims  the  approach  of  this  King  of  glory,  of 
whom  all  who  were  anointed  with  material  oil,  wheth- 
er 
*  Ver.  6 — 3. 


23 S  Hijiory  of  Hannah,  Lect.  XIX, 

ci"  as  priefts,  or  prophets,-  or  kings,  were?  but  a  Ihadow  ; 
and  in  whole  iuperior  luflre  they  difappear,  as  the 
light  of  the  flars  is  abforbed  in  the  fplendour  of  the 
fun.  The  prophetefs  celebrates  Jehovah  who  "  (hall 
judge  the  ends  of  the  earth,"  as  that  "  King'*  to 
whom  all  authority  is  committed,  to  whom  all  flrength 
is  given,"  as  that  ^'^ anointed"  One,  MefTiah  the  prince, 
whofe  "  horn"  fhould  be  finally  "exalted,"  and  before 
the  brightnefs  of  whofe  coming,  all  difordcr,  iniquity 
and  milery  ihall  flee  away  ;  who  fhall  firft  "  judge  the 
ends  of  the  earth,"    and  then  reign  forever  and  ever. 

And  thus  is  the  voice  of  this  holy  woman,  near 
twelve  hundred  years  before  Meffiah's  day,  in  perfe6b 
unifon  with  the  tongue  of  Chrifl  himfelf,  and  of  the 
apoftles  of  the  Lord,  after  his  afcenfion  into  heaven, 
and  the  defcent  of  the  Holv  Soirit.  "  The  Father 
judgeth  no  man  ;  but  hath  committed  all  judgment 
unto  the  Son  :  that  all  men  ihould  honour  the  Son, 
even  as  they  honour  the  Father.  He  that  honoureth 
not  the  Son,  honoureth  not  the  Father  which  hath 
fent  him."*  "  God  now  comniandeth  all  men  eve- 
ry where  to  repent :  becaufe  he  hath  appoinetd  a  day 
in  the  which  he  will  judge  the  world  in  righteoufnefs 
by  that  man  whom  he  hath  ordained  ;  v/hercof  he 
hath  given  alTurance  unto  all  men,  in  that  he  hath 
raifed  him  from  the  dead."t  "  The  kingdoms  of 
this  world  are  become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord, 
and  of  his  Chrifl: ;  and  he  fhall  reign  forever  and 
ever."!  And  fuch,  in  every  age,  is  the  native  expref- 
fion  of  a  foul  alive  to  God,  the  natural  afpiration  of 
the  fpiritual  and  divine  life. 

— Art  thou,  O  m.an,  through  grace  a  partaker  of 
it  ?  You  fliall  "  know  it  by  its  fruits."  As  it  in- 
creafes,  corruption  dies.  "  If  Chrifl  be  in  you,  the 
body  is  dead  becaufe  of  fin,  but  the  Spirit  is  life  be- 
caufe of  righteoufnefs."  §  To  be  deftitute  of  this  life, 
in  whatever   flate  of  perfedion  the  intelleclual  Hfe 

-may 
*  John  V.  2  2,  23.         t  Aits  xvii.  30,  31.         j.  Rev.  xi.  15.  ^j 
§  Rom.  viii.  10. 


Lect.  XIX»  Hijiory  of  Hannah*  239 

may  be,  is  to  be  under  the  power  of  everlafting  death, 
a  death  of  trefpafles  and  fins.  But  if  its  very  firft 
breathings  are  felt,  however  feebly,  it  is  a  new  cre- 
ation begun,  it  is  "  Chrifl  in  you,  the  hope  of  glory.'* 
Attempts  will  be  made  to  extinguifh  it,  but  in  vain. 
Like  its  Author  it  is  immortal.  It  may  be  opprelTed, 
it  maybe  fufpended,  it  may,  at  feafons,  lie  dormant, 
but  it  cannot  expire.  It  doth  not  always  make  itfelf 
fenfible  to  the  eyes  and  ears  of  the  world ;  for  the 
believer's  "  life  is  hid  with  Chrifl  in  God."  But 
"  when  Chrifl,  who  is  our  life,  fhall  appear,  then 
Ihall  ye  alfo  appear  with  him  in  glory."*  "  Beloved, 
now  are  we  the  fons  of  God,  and  it  doth  not  yet  ap- 
pear what  we  fhall  be :  but  we  know  that,  when  he 
Ihall  appear,  we  fhall  be  like  him ;  for  we  fhall  fe« 
him  as  he  is."t 

*  Col.  iii.  4.  f  I  John  iii.  a. 


Hiflorv 


Hiftory    of    Hannah, 


THE    MOTHER    OF    SAMUEL. 


LECTURE        XX. 


I     SAMUEL    il.     I  8 21. 

But  Samuel  mini/iered  before  the  Lord,  being  a  child,  gird- 
ed ivith  a  linen  ephod.  Moreover  his  mother  made  him 
a  little  coat,  and  brought  it  to  him  from  year  to  year, 
ivhen  Jhe  came  up  with  her  hufhand,  to  offer  the  yearly 
facrifce.  And  Eli  bleffed  Elkanah  a?id  his  wife,  and 
faid.  The  Lord  give  thee  feed  of  this  woman,  for  the 
loan  which  is  lent  to  the  Lord.  And  they  went  unto 
their  own  home.  And  the  Lord  vifited  Hannah,  fo 
that  fhe  conceived,  and  bare  three  fons  and  two  daugh- 
ters.    And  the  child  Sa?nuel grew  before  the  Lord. 

1  HE  charader  of  mod  men  is  formed  and  fixed,  be- 
fore it  is  apprehended  that  they  have,  or  can  have,  any 
charader  at  all.  Many  vainly  and  fatally  imagine, 
that  the  few  firlt  years  of  life  may  be  difpofed  of  as 
you  pleafe :  that  a  little  negle£t  may  eafily  be  repair- 
ed, that  a  little  irregularity  may  eafily  be  re6lified. 
This  is  faying  in  other  words,  "  never  regard  the 
morning  ;  fleep  it,  trifle  it,  riot  it  away ;  a  little 
clofer  application  at  noon  will  recover  the  lors.'"* 
"  The  fpring  returns,  the  flowers  appear  upon  the 
earth,  the  time  of  the  fmging  of  birds  is  come.  No 
matter  ;    it  is  foon  enough  to  think,  of  the  labours  of 

fpring. 


Lect.  X}t*  Hiflory  of  Hannah*  241 

fpring.  Sing  with  the  birds,  (kip  with  the  fawn,  the 
diligence  of  a  more  advanced,  more  propitious  feaion 
will  bring  every  thing  round  ;  and  the  year  (hall  be 
crowned  with  the  horn  of  plenty.'*  A  fmgle  ray  of 
reafon  is  fufficient  to  dete£l  and  expofe  fuch  abfurdi- 
ty  ;  yet  human  condu6t  exhibits  it,  in  almoft  uni- 
verfal  prevalence.  Infancy  and  childhood  are  vilely 
cafl  away  ;  the  morning  is  loll  ;  the  feed-time  neg- 
lected— And  what  is  the  confequence  ?  A  life  full  of 
confufion,  and  an  old  age  full  of  regret ;  a  day  of  un- 
neceffary  toil,  and  a  night  of  vexation  j  a  hurried 
fummer,  a  meagre  autumn,  a  comfortlefs  winter. 

It  is  the  ordinance  of  Providence  that  the  heavieft 
and  moft  important  part  of  education  fhould  devolve 
upon  the  mother.  It  begins  before  the  child  is  born  ; 
her  pafiions  and  habits  atFect  the  fruit  of  her  womb. 
From  her  bofom  the  infant  draws  the  precious  juice 
of  health  and  virtue,  or  the  baleful  poifon  of  vice  and 
difeafe.  The  fleeting  period  he  pafles  under  the 
fhadow  of  her  wing,  is  a  feafon  facred  to  wifdom  and 
piety.  If  the  mother  lead  not  her  fon  to  the  hallowed 
fpring,  if  fhe  fail  to  difclofe  to  his  eager  eye  and  pant- 
ing heart  the  lovehnefs  of  goodnefs,  the  excellency  of 
religion  ;  if  Ihe  permit  the  luxuriant  foil  to  be  overrun 
with  briars  and  thorns,  in  vain  will  flie  ftrive  to  re- 
deem the  loft  opportunity,  by  reftraints  and  punilh- 
ments,  by  precepts  and  mafters,  by  fchools  and  col- 
leges, in  a  more  advanced  ftage  of  life.  The  good 
or  the  m.ifchief  is  done  by  the  time  he  comes  out  of 
her  hands. 

That  Providence  which  has  impofed  this  employ- 
ment on  the  feebler  fex  as  a  talk,  has  moft  gracioully 
contrived  to  render  it  one  of  the  higheft  and  moft 
exquifite  of  female  comforts  ;  as,  in  truth,  all  the  im- 
pofitions,  nay,  the  very  chaftifements  of  Heaven  are 
really  bleffings.  Let  the  woman  who  has  given  fuck, 
tell  if  fhe  can,  "  how  tender  it  is  to  love  the  babe  that 
milks  her."  Alk  that  mother  if  there  be  any  joy  like 
the  joy  of  hearing  her  child  repeat  the  lelfons  which 
Vol.  VI.  q^  fhe 


242  Bf^ory  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XX. 

fhe  taught  him.  Afk  her,  if  fhe  recoUefts  or  regards 
her  pain  and  anguifh  ;  her  anxious  days  and  fleeplefs 
nights.  Afk  her,  if  all  is  not  forgotten  and  loft  in 
the  progrefs  which  expanding  faculties  have  made, 
and  in  the  richer  harveft  which  they  promife.  Afk, 
if  {he  has  not  already  received  more  than  her  reward. 
If  the  reprefentation  of  the  cafe  be  juft,  let  it  procure 
for  dutiful  mothers  the  refpeft  and  gratitude  which 
they  merit  ;  let  it  reconcile  their  minds  to  what  is 
painful  and  laborious  in  their  lot ;  let  it  raife  them 
to  their  due  rank  and  importance  in  fociety ;  and  let 
it  ftimulate  them  to  perfeverance  in  well-doing,  in  the 
full  alfurance  that  they  fhall  in  no  wife  lofe  their  re- 
ward. 

— The  paffage  of  holy  writ,  on  the  confideration  of 
which  we  are  now  entering,  is  a  very  affecting  repre- 
fentation of  the  effeds  and  confequences  of  a  good  and 
a  bad  education,  exemplified  in  the  condu6l  of  Hannah, 
the  mother  of  Samuel,  and  of  Eli,  the  father  of  Hoph- 
ni  and  Phinehas.  Scripture,  inftead  of  multiplying  pre- 
cept upon  precept,  leads  us  at  once  into  human  life,  and 
exhibits  the  law  written  in  the  event.  It  inflrufts  us 
how  to  bring  up  children,  by  delineating  the  dread- 
ful confequences  of  exceflive  lenity  and  indulgence  on 
the  one  hand,  and  the  happy  fruits  of  early  piety, 
regularity  and  felf-government  on  the  other.  This 
theme,  being  by  far  the  more  pleafmg  of  the  two,  and 
coming  in  more  regularly  in  the  order  of  hiftory,  fliall 
obtain  the  preference,  in  the  courfe  of  our  inquiry. 
Though,  indeed,  attention  to  the  one  muft,  of  necefli- 
ty,  bring  forward  the  other  ;  and  the  good  fortify 
and  recommend  itfelf  by  contrafl  with  the  evil. 

The  education  of  Samuel  began  in  the  pious  refo- 
lution  of  his  mother  before  he  was  conceived  in  the 
womb.  "  If  thou  wilt  give  unto  th?iie  handmaid  a 
man-child,  then  I  will  give  him  unto  the  Lord  all  the 
days  of  his  life."  Every  parent  receives  every  child 
under  a  tacit  engagement  to  the  fame  purpofe  :  and 
the  command  of  God,  from  the  moment  of  the  birth, 

is, 


Lect.  XX.  Hijlory  of  Hannah.  243 

is,  "  Rear  that  child  for  me."  I  have  watched  over 
him  while  he  lay  in  darknefs,  "  mine  eyes  faw  his 
Aibftance  yet  being  unperfed ;  in  my  book  all  his 
members  were  written,  which  in  continuance  were 
fafhioned,  when  as  yet  there  was  none  of  them.  I 
added  the  immortal  principle  to  the  finilhed  limbs  ;  I 
ftamped  my  image  upon  him.  There  my  hand  has 
fcattered  the  feeds  of  wifdom  and  happinefs  ;  to  thy 
foftering  care  I  commit  that  tender  plant.  Cared  for, 
it  will  abundantly  reward  thy  toil ;  negled:ed,  it  will 
grow  into  a  fliarp  thorn  to  tear  thy  flefh.  Every  day, 
every  hour  is  producing  a  chailge  in  it.  Grow  it  will 
and  muft  ;  what  it  grows  into,  depends  upon  thyfelf. 
Of  thy  hand  will  I  require  it." 

As  Samuel  was  to  be  a  Nazarite  to  God  from  the 
womb,  the  law  prefcribed  to  the  mother  certain  cere- 
monial obfervances  refpecling  her  own  conduct,  and 
the  treatment  of  her  own  perfon,  which  correfponded 
to  that  high  deftination.  Abftinence,  in  particular, 
from  certain  kinds  of  meat  and  drink,  which  might 
eventually  aifect  the  bodily  or  mental  conflitution  of 
the  unborn  infant.  With  thefe  prefcriptions  we  have 
no  room  to  doubt  Hannah  punctually  complied.  And 
here  we  fix  the  fecond  ftage,  or  if  you  will,  erecl  the 
fecond  pillar  of  education.  The  commands  of  God 
are  none  of  them  arbitrary  and  capricious,  but  found- 
ed in  reafon  and  the  nature  of  things.  Whatever 
itrongly  affeQs  the  mother  during  the  months  of 
pregnancy,  beyond  all  doubt  affects  her  offspring, 
whether  it  be  violent  liquors,  or  violent  paffions.  It 
belongs  to  another  profeflion  than  mine  to  account 
for  this,  and  to  determine  how  far  the  fy^mpathy  goes. 
But  the  general  belief  of  it  would  moft  certainly  have 
a  very  happy  effe£l  in  procuring  attention  to  female 
health,  regularity  and  tranquillity  in  that  delicate  and 
interefting  fituation.  The  comfort  of  both  parent  and 
child,  to  the  end  of  Hfe  ;  what  do  I  fay  ?  through  the 
whole  of  their  exiltence,  may  be  concerned  in  it. 

(^2  As 


244  Hiflorj  of  Hannah,  Lect.  XX». 

As  foon  as  Samuel  was  born,  we  find  Hannah  de- 
voting undivided  attention  to  the  firft  and  Iweeteft  of 
maternal  offices.  "  The  woman  tarried  at  home,  and 
gave  her  fon  fuck,  until  Ihe  weaned  him/'  Nature 
and  inclination  concur  in  prelling  this  duty  upon 
every  mother.  The  inftances  of  real  inability  are  too 
few  to  merit  confideration.  The  performance  of  it, 
carries  its  own  •  recompenfe  in  its  boibm  ;  the  negleft, 
is,  fji'fl  and  laft,  its  own  punilhment.  Without  con- 
fidering  at  prefent  its  connexion  with  the  health  and 
comfort  of  both  parties,  let  us  attend  for  a  moment 
to  its  influence  on  morals,  an<J  as  conllituting  a  branch 
cf  education.  Is  not  parental  and  filial  affedion  the 
firft:  bond  of  fociety,  and  the  foundation  of  all  virtue  ? 
It  is  this  which  arms  a  delicate  female  with  patience 
which  no  pain  nor  labour  can  exhaufl:,  with  fortitude 
which  no  calamity  can  fubdue,  with  courage  which 
no  difficulty  or  danger  can  intimidate.  It  is  this 
which  firft  infpires  the  infant  purpofe  to  excel,  which 
blows  the  facred  fpark  of  gratitude  into  a  flame, 
which  firft  awakens  and  animates  the  latent  feeds  of 
Immortahty  in  the  human  foul.  The  firft  perception 
cf  the  child,  is  the  fweet  fenfe  of  obligation  and  de- 
pendence :  he  feels  himfelf  far  advanced  in  a  com- 
merce of  reciprocal  affeftion  the  moment  he  becomes 
confcious  of  his  exiftence  ;  and  finds  himfelf  engaged 
in  habits  of  goodnefs,  long  before  he  underftands  the 
meaning  of  words.  And  is  it  fit  that  thefe  kind  af- 
fections fhould  be  transferred  to  a  ftranger  ?  Who 
can  be  fo  well  qualified  to  communicate  thefe  earlieft 
and  beft  lefl'ons,  as  a  mother  ?  Can  you  complain 
that  your  child  is  cold,  indifferent  or  averfe  to 
you,  when  you  fet  the  example  of  coldnefs,  in- 
difference and  averfion,  and  preferred  a  httle  eafe 
or  pleafure  to  his  health  and  comfort,  and  what  is  in- 
finitely more,  to  his  early,  infant  morals  ?  Can  you 
hope  from  a  hireling,  who  muft  have  renounced  na- 
ture too,  as  well  as  yourfelf,  what  God,  and  nature, 
and  decency,  and  regard  to  your  own  real  well-being 

have 


Lect.  XX.  Hifiory  of  Hannah.  245 

have  preffed  upon  you  in  vain  ?  It  was  fo  much  a  pri- 
mary duty  in  the  eyes  of  Hannah,  that  her  attends 
ance  on  the  duties  of  the  fanduary  at  Shiloh  gave 
place  to  it ;  fhe  revered  the  ordinance  of  that  God, 
who  fays,  "  I  will  have  mercy  and  not  facrifice  ;'* 
and  religious  fervice  is  interrupted  for  a  feafon,  to  be 
refumed  with  greater  ardour  and  effed,  when  the  du- 
ties of  life  were  faithfully  difcharged. 

At  what  age  the  child  was  weaned,  the  hifiory  re- 
lates not.  He  remained  under  the  tuition  of  his 
mother  till  he  was  of  a  proper  age  to  be  prefented  to 
the  Lord,  in  the  place  which  he  had  chofen  to  put  his 
name  there,  and  to  be  put  under  the  inftrudion  of  Eli, 
and  prepared  for  the  fervice  of  the  tabernacle.  And 
we  fhall  prefently  find  that  he  was  infinitely  more  in- 
debted to  the  folicitous  attentions  of  a  pious  m-  ther 
for  his  progrefs  in  divine  knowledge,  than  he  after- 
wards was  to  the  fuperintendence  of  the  high-,>nefl:  of 
Ifrael,  who  knew  fo  ill  to  rule  his  own  houic,  and  to 
whom,  of  a  pupil,  he  became  a  teacher. 

I  am  well  aware  of  the  difficulty  of  forming  a  plan 
of  religious  inflruftion  for  children.  Scripture  fufij- 
gefls  the  happiefl,  the  mofl  obvious,  and  the  mofl  ef- 
feftual.  It  ought  to  come  from  the  children  them- 
felves.  They  are  defirous  of  information.  If  left  to 
themfelves,  they  will  think  and  inquire.  Their  quef- 
tions  will  point  out  the  mode  of  inflruction.  Do  not 
be  over  anxious  to  take  the  lead,  but  carefully  follow 
them.  Their  ideas  will  be  directed  by  what  they  ob- 
ferve  and  feel ;  and  flrong  farts  and  appearances  of 
nature  will  make  a  deep  and  lading  impreffion  upon 
them.  He  who  knows  what  is  in  man,  has  according- 
ly given  us,  in  a  particular  example,  a  general  rule  of 
proceeding  in  this  great  article :  "  And  it  fhall  be 
when  thy  fon  afketh  thee  in  time  to  come,  faying, 
What  is  this  ?  That  thou  flialt  fay  unto  him,  by 
ftrength  of  hand  the  Lord  brought  us  out  of  Egypt, 
from  the  houfe  of  bondage.  And  it  came  to  pafs 
when  Pharaoh  would  hardly  let  us  go,  that  the  Lord 

flew 


24^  Hi/iory  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XX. 

llev/  all  the  firll-born  in  the  land  of  Egypt."  It  was 
probably  thus,  that  Hannah  inftrufted  her  darling 
fon ;  flored  his  memory  with  interefting  events,  and 
touched  his  heart  by  affecting  reprefentations  of  the 
mercy  and  judgment  of  God,  exemphfied  in  the  hif- 
tory  of  his  own  forefathers.  Milk  is  the  proper  food 
of  babes,  ftrong  meat  belongeth  to  them  who  are  of 
full  age.  A  dry  precept  is  but  half  underftood,  and 
is  fpeedily  forgotten,  but  a  tale  of  diilrefs,  the  tri- 
umph of  goodnefs  over  malevolence  and  oppofition  ; 
the  merited  fhame  and  punifhment  of  wickednefs,  is 
eafily  underftood,  is  long  retained,  and  its  impreffion 
is  not  to  be  effaced. 

We  advance  to  the  fourth  ftage  of  wife  and  good 
education,  of  which  we  have  the  pattern  before  us. 
The  fame  principle  which  induced  Hannah  to  keep 
her  fon  at  home  for  a  feafon,  and  to  abide  with  him, 
conftrained  her  to  fend  him  from  home,  to  give  up 
her  interefl  in  him,  when  the  fervice  of  God,  and  the 
greater  good  of  the  child  demanded  the  facrifice.  It 
is  juft  the  reverfe  of  what  high  hfe,  at  lead  with  us, 
daily  prefents.  You  fhall  fee  a  mother  who  hardly 
inquired  after  her  child  at  the  time  of  life  when  her 
tendernefs  was  moll:  neceflary  to  him,  all  at  once  af- 
fuming  the  parent,  exercifmg  an  affefted  tendernefs 
which  he  no  longer  needs,  reducing  him  to  child- 
hood after  he  is  becoming  a  man,  and  endeavouring 
to  compenfate  by  an  after-growth  of  affedion,  the  un- 
kindnefs  and  negleft  which  blighted  the  early  blof- 
foms  of  the  fpring.  She  can  fuffer  him  no  longer 
out  of  her  fight.  The  difcipline  which  her  own  wick- 
ednefs has  rendered  neceitary  to  his  improvement, 
is  reprobated  as  cruelty,  and  the  poor  youth  is  fre- 
quently ruined,  by  having  at  one  time  no  mother  at 
all;  at  another,  one  too  much.  I  honour  the  firm- 
nefs  of  Hannah,  as  much  as  I  love  her  motherly  foft- 
nefs  and  attachment.  To  poiTefs  with  gratitude,  to 
cherifh  a  worthy  objeft  with  tendernefs,  and  to  re- 
fign  it  with  fleadinefs  and  magnanimity,  is  equally  an 

objedt 


Lect.  XX.  Hijiory  of  Hannah.  247 

objeft  of  admiration  and  efteem.     Obferve  the  mixed 
emotions  which  animate  and  corredt  her  countenance 
as   fhe  condufts   her  well-beloved  fon   to   the  altarv 
The  faint  fpeaks   in  that  eye,  fparkling   with   delight^ 
as  fhe  devotes  what  fhe  holds  moic  dear  in  the  world 
to  Him,  from  whom  fhe  had  by  holy  importunity  ob- 
tained him  ;   the   tear  rufhes  to  it,  and  all  the  mother 
ftands  confefTed   as  fhe  retires.     Piety   has  prevailed, 
and  prefented  the  offering  :  nature  feels,  but  fubmits, 
.    It  is  eafier  to  conceive   than   to   defcribe  what  was 
the  flate  of  her  mind  as  fhe   returned  from  Shiloh  to 
Ramah  :  the  anxiety  and  regret  at  leaving  her  Samu- 
el behind  ;  the   fatisfaction  and  delic^ht  of  refleftinfr 
in  what  hands  fhe  had  left  him,  and  to  v/hat  care   flie 
had  committed  him.     But  we  hear  of  no  wild  project 
formed  of  removing  the  whole  family  to  refide  at  Shi- 
loh,  in  order   to   indulge  a  fond  mother's  partial   af- 
fedion,  with  the  continual  prefence  of  her  httle  min- 
ion.    No,  the  fame  fpirit  of  prudence,  the  fame  do- 
meflic  regards,  the  fame  fenfe  of  duty  which  once  en- 
gaged her  to  prefer  attention  to  Samuel,  to  attend- 
ance on  the  facred  feflival,  now  engage  her  to  prefer 
the  unoftentatious  employments  of  a  wife,  and  the 
miftrefs  of  a  family  at  Ramah,  to  the  facrcdnefs  of  the 
tabernacle,  and  the  care  of  an  only  fon,   a  firft-born. 
But  the  heart  of  a  mother  nnds,  and  flies  to,  the  inno- 
cent refuge  which  nature  pointed  out.     She  employs 
her  mind  and  her  hands   during  the  intervals  of  the 
feafl,  about  her  abfent  fon ;  "  His   mother  made  him 
a  little  coat,  and  brought  it  to  him  from  year  to  year, 
when  fhe  came  up  with  her  hufband  to  offer  the  year- 
ly facrifice."     O  how  pure,   how  cheap,  how  fatisfy- 
ing  are  the  pleafures  of  virtue  !  No  words  can  ex- 
prefs   the  inward,   the  incommunicable  joy  of  that 
mother,  as  her  fingers  wove   the  threads  of  that  little 
coat,  as  her  eyes  faw  it  grow  into  fhapc  and  colour 
and  fhade,  as  the  increafing  ftature  of  the  wearer 
rendered  the  increafe  of  her  labour  neceffary.     You 
mufl  be  converted  and  become  a  little  child,  a  dutiful, 

affectionate. 


248  Hijlory  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XX^ 

affedionate,  and  pious  child,  like  Samuel,  to  conceive 
the  delight  of  feeing  his  parents  return,  of  putting  on 
his  new  garment,  of  exhibiting  his  mother's  prefent.: 
Thefe  nothings  are  the  bond  of  affedion  among  virt.'. 
tuous  minds,  and  the  fource  of  their  felicity. 

This  we  fettle  as  a  more  advanced  ftage  of  educa- 
tion, as  far  as  it  depends  upon  the  mother.  To  part 
with  the  child  firmly  and  unreluctantly  when  the 
proper  hour  of  feparation  comes  j  to  preferve  the 
commerce  of  afFe6lion  by  works  and  meifages  of  kind- 
nefs ;  and  to  fubjed;  every  feeling  and  purfuit  to  the 
known  and  declared  will  of  God.  Let  no  one,  O 
woman,  ufurp  thy  province,  fiep  between  thee  and  thy 
child,  fleal  his  aftedions  from  thee.  What,  fuffer  him 
to  have  a  ftep-mother  while  thou  art  yet  living  !  For- 
bid it  nature,  forbid  it  decency,  forbid  it  reUgion. 
But  the  hour  of  feparation  is  arrived,  you  have  done 
your  duty,  he  muft  now  pafs  into  other  hands  ;  as  a 
mother  you  retained  him,  as  a  mother  refign  him. 
You  have  not  laboured  in  vain  :  you  have  net  fpent 
your  flrength  for  nought  and  in  vain.  Be  of  good 
cheer,  you  have  trained  him  up  in  the  way  in  which 
he  Hiould  go,  and  when  old  he  will  not  depart  from 
it.  Your  heart  fhall  rejoice  in  him  many  days  hence. 
He  fhall  be  to  thee  a  crown  of  glory  when  thou  art 
dropping  into  the  grave. 

The  diforderly  flate  of  Eli's  family,  the  confequence 
of  a  carelefs  and  negleded  education,  will,  through 
the  divine  permifTion,  be  the  fubjed  of  the  next 
Ledure. 

I  conclude  with  addrefTmg  myfelf  in  a  very  few 
words,  firft,  to  the  parents  of  the  other  fex.  You  fee 
what  a  heavy  burden  God  and  nature  have  laid  upon 
the  weaker  of  the  two.  You  are  bound  in  juflice,  in 
humanity,  in  gratitude,  to  alleviate  it.  To  no  pur- 
pofe  will  the  mother  watch  and  toil,  unlefs  you  co-op^ 
erate.  She  has  part  of  her  reward  in  her  very  em- 
ployment :  her  recompenfe  will  be  complete  if  flie 
obtain  your  approbation,  and  retain  your  affedion.. 

Has 


Lect.  XX.  Hiflory  of  Hannah,  ^49 

Has  offence  arifen,  does  calamity  prefs.  is  the  fpirit 
ruilled,  is  her  perlbn  changed  ?  Refle£l,  fhe  is  the 
mother  of  thy  child  ;  perhaps  Ihe  lofl  her  looks,  her 
health,  it  may  be  her  fpirits  and  temper,  in  doing  the 
duty  of  a  mother  :  fhe  ought  to  be  the  mere  eftima- 
ble  in  your  eyes  at  leaft. 

Let  me  next  fpeak  for  a  moment  to  ingenuous 
youth.  Young  man,  fuperadded  to  all  the  other  mo- 
tives to  virtue,  if  you  feel  not  the  force  of  this,  you 
are  loft  indeed.  There  is  a  worthy  vi^oman  in  the 
world,  who  loves  you  as  her  own  foul,  who  gave  you 
your  firft  nourifhment  and  inftruftion,  who  brought 
you  into  hfe  at  the  rilk  of  her  own,  to  whom  nothing 
that  affeds  you  can  be  a  matter  of  indifference.  She 
is  jealous  over  you  with  a  holy  jealoufy.  If  you 
tread  in  the  ways  of  wifdom,  how  her  heart  will  be 
faiished  within  her !  If  you  decline  from  the  right 
path,  if  you  become  "  a  fon  of  Behal,"  you  will  rend 
her  with  feverer  pangs  than  thofe  which  (he  endured 
in  bringing  thee  into  the  world.  And  can  your 
heart  permit  you  to  plunge  a  dagger  into  the  heart 
of  your  own  mother  ?  Who  does  not  fhudder  at  the 
thought  of  a  parricide  fo  deteftable,  fo  moniLrous  ? 
For  a  mother's  fake,  renounce  that  "  covenant  with 
death  :"  retrace  thy  wandering  fteps,  refunie  the 
reins  of  felf-government,  and  return  to  real  reft  and 
joy. 

Young  woman,  let  thine  eyes  be  ftill  toward  the 
nurfe,  the  guide,  the  comforter,  the  refuge  of  thy 
early  years.  Alleviate,  by  partaking  of,  the  burdens 
and  labours  of  her  ftation  ;  diffipate  her  folici- 
tude  ;  foothe  her  pains  ;  give  her  caufe  to  blefs  the 
day  fhe  bare  thee.  Truft  in  her  as  thy  moft  prudent 
counfellor,  as  thy  moft  affured  friend,  as  thy  moft  in- 
telligent inftruftor.  Do  her  good  and  not  evil,  all 
the  days  of  thy  life.  Rife  into  ufefulnefs,  into  im- 
portance, into  refpeftability,  by  marking  her  foot- 
fteps,  imbibing  her  fpirit,  following  her  example.     A 

daughter 


250  Hijiory  of  Hannah,  Lect.  XX. 

daughter  unkind,  undutiful,  ungrateful  to  a  mother, 
is  of  all  mon Iters  the  mod  odious  and  difgufling. 
Youthful  excellence  is  never  more  amiable  and  at- 
tractive, than  when  it  feeks  retreat  and  retirement  un- 
der the  maternal  wing,  and,  fhrinking  from  the  pub- 
lic eye,  feeks  its  reward  in  a  mother's  fmile  of  appro- 
bation. 


Hiflory 


Hiftory  of  Hannah, 


THE    MOTHER    OF    SAI/IUEL. 


LECTURE       XXI. 


I   SAMUEL  11.    12 17,   23,    24. 

Noiv  the  fens  of  Eli  were  fans  of  Belial :  they  knew  not 
the  Lord.  And  the  pricjis^  cujtom  with  the  people  was, 
that  when  any  man  offered facr if  ce,  the  prieji'sfervant 
came  while  the  fiefb  was  in  fee  things  with  afefo-hook  of 
three  teeth  in  his  hand  :  and  he  firuck  it  into  the  pan, 
or  kettle,  or  caldron,  or  pot :  all  that  the  flcfh-hook 
brought  up,  the  priefi  took  for  himfelf:  fo  they  did  in 
Shiloh,  unto  all  the  Ifraelites  that  came  thither.  Alfo 
before  they  burned  the  fat,  the  pricji'  s  fcrvant  came,  and 
faid  to  the  man  that  facrificed.  Give  fefh  to  roafi  for 
the  priefi  :  for  he  will  not  have  fodden  flcfn  of  thee, 
but  raw.  And  if  any  man  faid  unto  him.  Let  them  not 
fail  to  hurnJhe  fat  prefently :  and  then  take  as  much  as  thy 
fold  defireih,  then  he  would  anfwer  him.  Nay,  but  thou 
fhalt  give  it  me  nozu  :  and  if  not,  I  will  take  it  by  force. 
Wherefore  the  fin  of  the  young  men  was  very  great 
before  the  Lord,  for  men  abhorred  the  offering  of 
the  Lord.  Now  Eli  was  very  old,  and  heard  all  that 
his  fens  did  imto  all  IfrceL  And  he  faid  unto  iheni. 
Why  doyefuch  things  ?  for  I  hear  of  your  evil  dealings 
by  all  this  people.  Nay,  my  fons  :  fr  it  is  no  good 
report  that  I  hear  ;  ye  make  the  Lord^s  people  to  tranf- 

PERFECTION 


2.52  Hijlory  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XXI. 

i  ERFECTION  confifls  in  the  happy  medium  be- 
tween the  too  little  and  too  much.  It  is  eminent- 
ly coufpicuous  in  every  thing  that  comes  immediately 
from  God,  "He  is  the  rock,  his  work  is  perfedt, 
and  all  his  ways  are  judgment."  Contemplate  the 
ftupendous  whole,  or  examine  the  minuted  part,  and 
you  find  no  redundancy,  no  defed:.  All  is  good, 
yea,  very  good.  But  man  is  ever  in  the  extreme. 
Now,  under  the  power  of  an  indolence  which  flirinks 
from  every  appearance  of  difficulty  or  danger,  and 
now  hurried  on  by  a  zeal  which  overleaps  all  the 
bounds  of  wifdom  and  difcretion.  Now,  he  cannot 
be  prevailed  on  to  begin,  and  now  nothing  can  per- 
fuade  him  to  flop.  He  makes  his  very  good  to  be 
evil  fpoken  of,  by  imprudence  and  excels  in  the  man- 
ner of  performing  it. 

In  nothing  is  human  ignorance  and  frailty  more 
apparent,  than  in  the  important  article  of  education. 
It  is  condutked,  at  one  time,  with  a  feverity  that  in- 
timidates and  overwhelms  ;  at  another,  with  a  lenity 
that  flatters,  encourages,  and  foflers  vice.  One  is 
driven  into  an  evil  courfe  by  defpair,  another  drawn 
into  it,  and  fortified  in  it,  by  excefTive  indulgence. 
it  is,  in  truth,  no  eafy  tafk  to  manage  this  matter 
aright.  The  modes  of  treatment  are  as  various  as 
the  character  and  difpofiticns  of  the  young  ones,  who 
are  the  fubjeds  of  it.  The  application  of  a  general 
rule  is  impracticable  and  abfurd.  The  difcipline 
which  would  opprefs  one  child,  is  hardly  fuflicient  to 
refcrain  another  within  any  bounds  of  decency.  It 
is  happy  when  the  child  is  inured  to  habits  of  reilraint 
and  iubmllTion  from  the  cradle.  If  the  mother  has 
difcharged  her  duty  tolerably,  the  bufinefs  of  the  fa- 
ther and  mafler  is  half  executed.  La'l  Lord's  day 
we  had  tlie  fatisfaclion  of  obferving  the  effeds  of  an 
early  good  education,  in  the  example  of  Hannah,  the 
niother  of  Samuel.  We  faw  in  her  condud  a  happy 
mixtvire  of  tendernefs  and  refolution  ^  of  attention 

to 


I.ECT.  XXI.  Hiftory  of  Hannah,  653 

to  domeflic  employments,  and  regard  to  the  offices  of 
religion ;  of  moderated  anxiety  about  the  fafety  and 
comfort  of  her  fon's  peribn,  and  prudent  concern 
about  the  culture  of  his  mind.  We  arcjthis  evening, to 
meditate  on  a  fubjett  much  lefs  pleafmgj  but  not  leis  in- 
flrudive  :  the  ruinous  effeds  of  education  negleded  ; 
youth  licentious  and  unreltrained,  fmking  gradually 
into  univerfal  depravity,  and  ilTuing  in  accumulated 
wretchednefs  and  untimely  death.  A  father  weak 
and  indulgent  ;  fons  profligate  and  abandoned  ;  a 
God  holy,  righteous,  and  juft. 

Obferve,  in  the  entrance,  the  provifion  which  in- 
finite wifdom  has  been  making  to  fupply  the  breach 
which  was  ready  to  be  made  in  the  prieithood.  The 
meafure  of  the  iniquity  of  Eli's  fons  was  nearly  full, 
their  deftru^lion  was  haftening  on  ;  Samuel  is  already 
born,  inftruded  in,  prepared  for,  the  fervice  of  the 
tabernacle  ;  and  the  care  of  a  pious  mother  has  been 
employed,  in  the  hand  of  Providence,  to  counterad; 
the  criminal  negligence  and  carelefsnefs  of  a  too  eafy 
father. 

The  reprefentation  given  us  of  the  degeneracy  and 
diffolutenefs  of  the  Levitical  family,  equals,  if  not  ex- 
ceeds, all  that  hiftory  relates  of  the  irregularity,  and 
impurity  of  idol  worfhip.  The  law  had  made  a  de- 
cent, and  even  an  ample  provifion,  for  them  who 
miniftered  at  the  altar,  but  had  carefully  guarded 
againft  whatever  tended  to  countenance  luxury  or 
excefs.  But  behold  every  thing  confounded.  The 
directors  of  religious  worfhip  are  become  the  patterns 
of  impiety.  There  is  no  reverence  of  God,  no  re- 
gard to  man.  Before  the  fat  of  the  facrifice  fmokes 
upon  the  altar  of  Jehovah,  the  choiceft  pieces  of  the 
vidtim  are  ferved  up  on  the  abominable  table  of  a 
luxurious  prieft.'  The  pious  worfhipper  has  his  of- 
fering marred,  his  fpirit  difcompofed,  the  feftival  of 
his  family  peace  difturbed  and  defrauded,  and  inde- 
cencies, too  fhocking  to  be  mentioned,  clofe  the  fcene 
«jf  riot  and  intemperance. 


^54  llijlory  of  Hannah,  Lect.  XXI. 

All  this  is  eafily  to  be  traced  up  to  early  habits  of 
indulgence  :  men  could  not  have  become  thus  wick- 
ed all  at  once.  Had  the  authority  of  the  father,  had 
the  fanftity  of  the  high-prieft,  had  the  feverity  of 
the  judge  interpofed,  to  check  and  punifli  the  firft 
deviation  from  propriety,  it  had  never  come  to  this. 
We  may  judge  of  the  gentlenefs  with  which 
fiighter  oitences  were  reproved,  when  the  moft  atro- 
cious tranfgrefTions  meet  with  fo  mild  a  rebuke  as 
this,  "  Nay,  my  fons,  it  is  no  good  report  that  I  hear." 
This  is  rather  an  invitation  to  commit  iniquity,  than 
the  vengeance  of  a  magiftrate  to  expofe  and  fupprefs 
it.  To  point  out  the  aggravations  of  Kli's  offence,  is 
neither  malicious  nor  ufelefs  ;  it  is  written,  among 
the  other  things  in  this  book,  for  our  inftrudion, 
and  by  the  bleflmg  of  God  it  may  prove  falutary,  as 
a  beacon  pointing  out  the  rock  on  which  others  have 
made  Ihipwreck. 

Againll  his  perfonal  virtue  no  cenfure  is  infinuat- 
cd.  He  feems  to  have  been  one  of  thofe  quiet,  eafy, 
good-natured  men,  who  love  not  to  have  their  tran- 
quillity difturbed,  and  areloth  to  dilturb  that  of  others  ; 
who,  without  being  vicious  themfelves,  by  a  pafTive 
tamenefs,  become  the  undefigned  abettors  of  the  fms 
of  other  men.  The  corruption  of  the  times  mult  in- 
deed have  been  very  great,  when  it  was  fuppofed  pof- 
fible  for  the  miftrefs  of  a  family,  during  the  folemni- 
ty  of  a  facred  feftival,  to  be  difguiied  with  wine,  in 
the  face  of  the  fun,  in  the  court  of  God's  houfe.  But 
the  bare  poffibility  of  fuch  a  cafe,  grievoufly  enhances 
his  guilt.  He  had  not  done  his  duty  as  the  public 
guardian  of  morals  and  rehgion,  or  Hannah  had 
not  been  fufpeftcd  of  intemperance,  and  the  fufpi- 
cion  refleds  the  highefl  difhonour  on  both  his  un- 
derflanding,  and  his  heart ;  his  bitterefl  enemy  could 
not  have  devifed  a  feverer  cenfure  upon  his  conduct, 
than  that  under  the  priefthood  of  Eli  fuch  enormi- 
ties were  committed,  and  connived  at. 

Men 


LiCT.  XXL  tiijiory  of  Hannah »  l^^ 

Men  in  power  are  chargeable  not  only  \vith  the  evil 
which  they  do,  but  alfo  with  the  evil  which  they  might 
have  prevented,  but  did  not.  Power  is  delegated  to 
them,  for  this  very  end,  that  they  may  be  "  a  terror 
to  evil  doers,**  as  well  as  "  a  praife  to  fuch  as  do 
well.'*  The  fame  carelefsnefs  runs  through  the  whole 
of  his  domeftic  and  public  adminiitration  ;  a  difor- 
derly  family,  a  polluted  church,  a  diftraded,  dagger- 
ing (late  ;  no  government,  or  what  was  worfe  than 
none.  The  belt  things  are  the  moil  liable  to  abufe  : 
and  we  fliall  give  this  faulty,  unhappy  father  all  the 
credit  we  can.  His  errors  had  their  origin  perhaps  in 
goodnefs.  His  natural  difpofition  was  mild  and  gen- 
tle ;  his  parental  affedion  was  great ;  he  was  unwil- 
ling to  render  any  one  unhappy  ;  he  thought  of  pre- 
vailing by  love.  He  began  with  overlooking  trilling 
faults ;  he  flattered  himfelf  that  the  reafon  and  re- 
fieftion  of  riper  years  Vv^ould  corred  and  cure  the 
wildnefs  and  irregularity  of  boyifh  days  ;  "  Surely  the 
young  men  will  by  and  by  fee  their  folly,  and  grow" 
wifer."  Who  would  not  rather  attempt  to  rule  by 
love  ?  But  what  is  the  proper  condud:  and  expreffion 
of  love  ?  What  faith  the  wifefl  of  mankind  ?  "  He 
that  fpareth  the  rod,  hateth  the  child."  What  faith  the 
great  Father  and  Saviour  of  all  men  ?  "  As  many  as  I 
love^  I  rebuke  and  chaften.'*  There  is  no  fuch 
thing  as  happinefs  but  in  habits  of  order,  decency 
and  fubjedion.  The  man,  or  the  child,  who  knows 
no  law  but  that  of  appetite  or  caprice,  mufl  of  necef- 
fity  be  milerable.  It  is  cruelty,  not  kindnefs,  to  give  a 
man  up  to  himfelf;  and  to  dream  of  changing  habits 
of  indolence,  diflipation,  and  criminal  indulgence,  by 
remonftrance  and  reafon,  is  expeding  that  reafon 
lliould  furvive  itfelf,  or  that  it  fhould  effed,  when  en- 
feebled, difordered,  and  corrupted,  what  it  could  not 
do  when  clear,  and  found,  and  vigorous.  But,  "  the 
grace  of  God  is  almighty,  and  his  mercies  are  very 
great."  Nay,  but  who  art  thou,  O  man,  who  dareft 
to  exped,  or  to  afk  a  miracle  of  grace,  with  the  con- 

fcioufnefs 


t^6  fii/iory  of  Hunnafj.  Lect.  XXt* 

fcioufnefs  of  having  neglecbed  the  means,  which,  time- 
ly employed,  mightj  through  the  divine  bleffmg,  have 
proved  effeftaal  without  a  miraculous  interpofition  ? 
The  one  talent  is  juftly  taken  away  from  him  who 
hid  it  in  the  earth,  and  it  is  given  to  increafe  the  (lore 
of  the  diligent  and  faithful  fervant,  who,  by  wifdom 
and  induftry,  had  increafed  his   five  talents  into  ten. 

The  human  mind,  put  under  early  culture,  may  be 
made  to  produce  any  thing.  It  poffeffes  a  happy  ^pli- 
ancy, which  may  be  moulded  into  any  form.  But 
the  fame  plant,  which,  young  and  tender,  you  could 
with  a  touch  bend  into  what  fhape  you  pleafed  ;  when 
grown  into  a  tree,  refifts  every  effort  of  your  ftrength. 
Cut  it  down  you  may,  break  it  you  may,  cleave  it 
afunder  you  may,  but  bend  it  you  cannot.  And 
alas,  how  great  a  portion  of  human  Hfe  is  fpent  in 
ufelefs,  unavailing  regret  for  opportunities  loll,  fea- 
fons  mifpent,  mifchief  done,  mifery  incurred  !  Yet 
men  will  not  profit  even  by  experience,  that  plaineit^ 
moil  faithful,  and  mod  powerful  of  all   inftruftors. 

"Who  can  view,  without  pitying  him,  that  wretched 
old  man,  deploring  the  guilt  which  he  himfelf  had 
occafioned,  which  he  wants  refolution  to  punilh,  and 
wifdom  to  cure ;  which  is  proceeding  from  evil  to 
worfe,  filling  the  paft  with  remorfe,  and  overfpread- 
ing  the  future  with  defpair  ?  Ah,  how  heavily  he  fuf- 
fers  in  his  age,  becaufe  thefe  profligate  fons  bore 
not  the  wholeibme  yoke  of  difcipline  and  reftraint  in 
their  youth  !  Who  can  conceive  the  anguifh  of  Jacob's 
foul,  as  he  was  finking  into  the  grave  under  the  lofs 
of  a  gracious  fon  by  the  ftroke  of  Providence  ?  But 
what  is  it,  compared  to  the  more  dreadful  anguifh 
of  Eli,  looking  forward  in  horror  to  the  utter  extinc- 
tion of  all  his  family,  with  the  infupportable  refledion, 
that  all,  all  was  chargeable  upon  himfelf  ? 

The  character  and  behaviour  of  the  unhappy 
young  men  is  a  melancholy  and  affeding  reprefenta- 
tion  of  the  progrefs  of  moral  corruption.  It  begins 
in  their  mkking  light  of  the  ordinances  of  religion, 

which 


Lect.  XXI.  Hi/lory  of  Hannah,  t^y 

which  they  were  bound,  by  their  office,  to  venerate 
themfelves,  and  to  recommend  by  their  example,  to 
others.  And  you  may  be  affured  there  is  fomething 
effentially  wrong  about  that  man  who  exprefles  real 
or  affected  contempt  for  the  worfhip  of  God.  It  is 
a  grofs  violation  of  the  laws  of  decency  and  good 
breeding.  For  what  title  can  you  have  to  infult  that 
fober-minded  perfon,  who  has  given  you  no  provo- 
cation, by  deriding  or  profaning  what  he  holds  fa- 
cred  ?  It  is  a  dire£l  defiance  to  the  laws  of  your  coun- 
try, which  have  adopted  the  inftitutions  of  religion, 
to  affilt,  at  lead,  in  carrying  on  and  fupporting  good 
government,  fo  elTential  to  public  happinefs.  He  that 
defpifcs,  therefore,  the  ordinances  of  God,  is  a  friend 
to  anarchy,  is  making  a  wicked  attempt  to  diffolve  the 
bands  of  fociety,  and  defcrves  to  be  treated  as  a  pub- 
lic enemy.  It  is  an  argument  of  a  light  and  filly 
mind,  aiming  to  fupply  the  want  of  confequence,  by 
affected  boldnefs,  impiety  and  fmgularity  ;  and  which, 
like  every  other  fpecies  of  affeftation,  generally  miifes 
its  aim. 

In  the  example  before  us,  we  find  irreverence  to- 
ward God  fpeedily  degenerating  into  violence  and  in- 
juftice  to  men.  And  indeed  what  hold  has  fociety  of 
that  man  who  has  fhaken  off  the  firft  and  ftrongeft 
obligations  of  his  nature,  who  has  profeifedly  degrad- 
ed himfelf,  and  is  become  lefs  than  a  man,  in  making 
the  filly  attempt  to  be  thought  fomething  more.  He 
who  begins  with  defrauding  God  of  his  due,  will  not 
long  be  fcrupulous  about  invading  the  rights  of  his 
fellow-creature.  The  fame  fpirit  which  defers  the 
facrifice  till  an  unruly  appetite  be  firft  gratified,  will, 
by  and  by,  proceed  to  "  take  by  force"  the  portion 
of  another  ;  and  v/ill  lofe  all  fenfe  of  the  juft 
claims  and  real  w^nts  of  mankind,  in  pride  and  felfifh- 
ncfs. 

The  third  ftage  of  this  humiliating  progrefs,  difcov- 
ers  to  us  men  wholly  brutified,  plunged  into  the  low- 
eft,  grolTeft  fenfuality ;  finking  deeper  and  deeper  in 
Vol.  VI.  R  the 


258  Hiftory  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XX T. 

the  iiiirCj  till  nothing  remains  but  the  image  of  the 
moil  odious  and  abominable  of  animals.  Young  man, 
looi^  at  the  picture,  confider  it  well.  If  you  are  io- 
happy  as  to  have  preferved  your  virtue,  if  you  have 
any  favour  of  piety,  you  muft  regard  it  with  a  mix- 
ture of  indi;;nation  and  pity ;  if  you  are  not  loft  to 
the  feelings  of  humanity,  it  will  fill  you  with  loathing 
and  difguft.  The  fequel  will  teach  us  many  import- 
ant leffons.  For  my  own  part,  ever  fmce  I  became 
a  father,  I  have  never  been  able  to  read  this  hiftory 
without  trembling  ;  and  my  anxiety  has  not  been  di- 
minidied  by  refleaing,  that  the  children  whom  God 
has  given  me,  neither  in  their  bodies,  nor  their  minds, 
nor  their  difpofitions,  are  among  the  loweft  of  their 
fpecies.  I  have  an  awful  conviction,  that  if  any  of 
them  fliould  unhappily  turn  out  ill,  a  great  part  of 
the  blame  will  be  imputable  to  myfelf.  I  am  fre- 
quently tempted  to  rejoice  that  none  of  my  grown 
children  have  made  choice  of  my  own  profellion,  the 
moft  dangerous,  the  moft  refponlible  of  all ;  and  I 
am  much  more  alarmed  at  the  apprehenfion,  that 
Vvhen  they  are  become  men  and  women,  they  may  ac- 
cufe  me  of  over-indulgence,  than  I  am  now,  of  being 
thought  harfti  and  unkind  by  children. 

As  the  greateft  and  moft  rei]3e6table  part  of  my  au- 
dience are  parents,  I  muft  of  neceftity  apply  the  great 
raid  important  fubjett  of  my  difcourfe  particularly  to 
them.  And,  as  I  always  Hatter  myfelf  with  the  great- 
er hope  of  fuccefs  with  female  parents,  I  take  the  lib- 
erty of  addrefting  myfelf  firft  to  mothers.  Providence, 
my  friends,  as  I  have  frequently  repeated,  has  laid  the 
earlieft,  the  heavieft,  and  the  moft  important  part  of 
education,  upon  you  ;  but  it  has  alfo  alleviated  and 
fweetened  the  talk  by  many  peculiar  affedions  and  en- 
dearments. I-et  me  fuppofe  you  have  done  your  duty, 
and  carefully  reared  up  infancy  and  childhood.  The 
charge  muft  then  pafs  into  other  hands.  But  furely 
both  your  heart  and  confcience  tell  you  that  you  have 
not  yet  done  with  them.  Female  children  in  par- 
ticular 


Lect.  XXL  Hijlor^  of  Hannah*  2^g 

ticular  are  an  anxious  and  a  lading  burthen  upon  the 
mother.     They  love  you,  they  look  up  to  you,   they 
imitate  you.     You  mud  be  therefore  what  you  wifli 
them  to  become.     Will  a  daughter  learn  to  be  indul- 
trious  from  an  idle,  indolent  mother  ?  Will  ihe  learn 
to  be  fober-minded,  by  feeing  you  habitually  carried 
away  by  the   pride   of  life  ?  "Will  flie  catch  the  fpirit 
of  piety  from  one  whofe  very  fabbaths  are  devoted  to 
diflipation  and  pleafure  ?  I  will  not  infult  you  by  fup- 
pofiiig  that  a  pofitively  bad  example  has  been  let,  or 
that  your   darling  charge  may  have  grofsly  deviated 
from  the  paths  of  virtue  ;  but  let  me  fuppofe,  for  a  mo- 
ment, a  cafe  that  may,  and  does,  happen  everyday  ;  that 
your  daughter  has  grown  up  with  a  vain,  light,  world- 
ly mind  ;   has   acquired  a  tafte  for   drefs  and    amufe- 
menr ;  has  become  a  perfed;  miflrefs  of  the  ufual  ac- 
compliflmients  of  the  day  and  place  in  which  we  live  ; 
has  become   an  object   of  attention  and   admiration. 
Let   me   fuppofe  her   attacked  with  difeafe,  and  that 
difeafe,  perhaps,  the   effect  of  levity  and   dillipation. 
See,  the  rofes  are  fading  upon  her  cheek,  her  "  beau- 
ty is  wafting  like  a  moth  ;"  all  her  vivacity  is  reduc- 
ed to  the  fudden  glow  of  the  heftic,  which  is  gone, 
before  it  is  well   come  ;   (he  feels  the  witnefs  of  death 
at  her  heart,  Ihe  looks  up  to  you  with  clouded,  will- 
ful eyes,  and  fays,  "  Ah,  my  mother,  you  was  too  in- 
dulgent to  me.     You  aflided  the  tom^ue  of  the  flatter- 
er,  and  taught  me  to  forget  myfelf.     I  was  made  to 
believe  myfelf  an  angel,   and  now  feel  that  I   am  a 
worm.     Seeking   to  diine  in  the  eyes  of  man,  I  have 
neglected  the  means  of  finding  favour  in  the  fight  of 
God.    I  now  wiih  I  had  frequented  the  houfe  of  prayer 
more ;    I  v;ifh  I  had  not  frequented  the  company  of 
the  giddy,  the  thoughtlefs,  and  the  profane.     1  do  not 
accufe  my  dear  mother,  of  defignedly  mifleading  me  ; 
but  would  to  God  fhe  had  better  underdood  her  own 
duty  and  my  real  interelL     Life  had  been  more  re- 
fpeftable.    ond  death   lefs  frightful  than  I  find  it  to 
R  2  be. 


26a  Hi/iory  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XXL 

be.     O  my   God,   have   mercy,  have   mercy  upon 

me.  • 

It  had  been  eafy  to  have  added  to  the  flrength  of 
this  addrefs ;  but  even  from  this  the  maternal  heart 
recoils,  -and  deprecates  with  horror,  an  hour  fo 
dreadful.  Well,  blelTed  be  God,  it  is  yet  a  great  way 
otf ;  and  what  is  more,  it  is  in  your  pov/er  to  prevent 
it ;  I  do  not  mean  the  Itroke  of  death  ;  but  the  arrow 
of  death  dipt  in  the  poilbn  of  remorfe.  God  grant 
that  none  here  may  ever  feel  it. 

0  The  criminality  of  Eli  confifted,  my  brethren,  in 
the  negleft  of  his  duty ;  and  you  have  feen  how  fatal 
that  neglecl  was  to  himfelf  and  to  his  family.     Dare 

1  fuppofe  there  is  a  father  here,  who  has  been  more 
than  pallive  in  the  corruption  of  his  own  child  ;  who 
has  been  the  promoter  and  the  pattern  of  wickednefs  ; 
who  has  with  his  own  hand  fcattered  the  feeds  of 
death  in  that  precious  foil  ;  and  trained  up  an  immor- 
tal being  to  deilruclion  ?  Paufe,  and  confider.  Are 
you  prepared  to  meet  the  flings  of  an  awakened  con- 
fcience,  accufmg  thee  of  murder,  of  foul-murder,  the 
murder  of  thy  own  Ion,  vv^hom  thou  lovedil  ?  Are  you 
fortified  againft  the  cutting  reproaches  of  that  child, 
laying  his  eternal  ruin  to  your  charge  ?  Have  you 
prepared  your  defence  againit  that  awful  day  when  a 
righteous  God  fhall  demand  an  account  of  the  facred 
trufl  committed  to  thee  ?  If  to  contemplate  his  pun- 
ifhment  at  a  diftance  be  woe  unutterable,  what  were 
it,  to  be  at  once  the  caufe  and  the  partaker  of  it  ?  The 
terrified  imagination  flees  from  this  hell  of  hells,  and 
feeks  refuge  in  prayer  to  a  merciful  God,  that  he 
would  gracioully  iave  you  from  it. 

Let  young  ones  be  perfuaded  to  be  patient  of  re- 
ftraint,  of  correction,  and  of  reproof.  You  are  not 
grieved  v/illingly,  you  arc  not  aftiided  unneceifarily, 
you  are  not  chaftifed  out  of  caprice.  "  My  fon,  hear 
the  Inftruclion  of  thy  father,  and  forfake  not  the  law 
of  thy  mother  :  for  they  ihall  be  an  ornament  of 
tjrace  unto  thy  head,  and  chains  about  thy  neck.     My 

fon. 


Lect.  XXI.  Hiftory  of  Hafinah.  261 

fon,  if  Tinners  entice  thee,  confent  thou  not."^ — "  A 
wife  fon  maketh  a  glad  father  ;  but  a  foolifh  fon  is  the 
heavinefs  of  his  mother."t  Venerate  the  name,  the 
day,  the  houfe,  the  worOiip  of  God.  Remember  that 
want  of  decency  is  want  of  fenfe  :  that  the  immoder- 
ate indulgence  of  appetite  is  inimical  to  all  true  enjoy- 
ment :  that  what  is  renounced,  from  refpecl  to  rea- 
fon  and  confcience,  is  enjoyed :  that  prefent  comfort, 
and  future  happinefs,  are  built  on  habits  of  order, 
felf-government,  juflice,  benevolence,  and  fubjeftion 
to  divine  authority. 

*  Prov.  i.   8 — 10.  f  Prov.  x.    I. 

fl  make  no  apology  for  giving  this  difcourfe  from  the  prels,  under 
a  title  that  bears  the  name  of  Hannah  :  The  contrail  which  it  prefents 
being  her  higheft  encomium,  next  to  the  account  given  of  Samuel,  in 
the  following  Ledure,  which,  of  courfe,  clofes  her  hiftory,  and  fulfils 
our  defign.J 


Hiftorv 


Hiftory    of    Hannah, 


THE    MOTHER    OF    SAMUEL. 


LECTURE       XXII. 

I   SAMUEL    il.     26. 

And  the  child  Samuel  greijij  on,  and  was  in  faniour  both 
with  the  Lord  and  alfo  with  men. 

IN  O  appearance  of  nature  is  more  ftriking,  no  one 
affords  a  more  complete  demonftration  of  the  great 
Creator's  confummate  wifdom  and  unremitting  atten- 
tion, than  the  gradual  and  imperceptible  progrefs  of 
every  thing  in  nature,  to  its  perfeftion,  and  to  its  dif- 
folution.  The  dawning  light  infenfibly  advances  to 
the  perfect  day,  and  the  moment  high  noon  is  gained* 
an  approach  is  made  towards  night.  When  the  moon 
has  wanedj  till  fhe  is  loft  in  the  fun's  brighter  rays, . 
fhe  begins  to  emerge  into  form  and  luftre  again  :  hav- 
ing waxed  till  her  refplendent  orb  is  full,  that  mo- 
ment (he  begins  to  decay.  We  are  prepared  to- bear 
the  raging  heat  of  the  dog-ftar  by  the  grateful  vicif- 
iltudes  and  advances  of  fpring ;  and  are  fortified 
againll  winter's  ftormy  blaft,  by  the  contrading  light 
and  the  temperate  cold  of  fober  autumn. 

Human  life  too  has  its  m.orning,  noon  and  night  ; 
its  fpring  and  fall ;  and  empires  have  their  infancy, 
maturity  and  old  age.  Time  is  the  dawning  of  eter- 
nity ;  earth  is  the  fcene  of  preparation  for  heaven ; 

and 


Lect.  XXII.  Hi/lory  of  Hannah.  263 

and  mortaliiy  the  paHligc  to  life  and  Immortality. 
Every  thing  is  beautiful  in  its  feafon,  and  every  flate 
is  a  preparation  for  that  which  is  to  fuccced  it.  Na- 
ture and  providence  admit  of  few  fudden  and  violent 
traiifitions  ;  becaufe  the  human  frame,  both  of  body 
and  mind,  is  little  quahfied  to  endure  them. 

The  paiTage  before  us  prefents  one  of  the  mofi; 
pleafmg  objetls  of  contemplation — human  life  at  iis 
happiei't  period,  and  in  its  mofl  fmiling  afpe£t — early 
youth,  increafmg  beauty  and  flrength,  gradual  and 
regular  improvement.  "While  the  family  of  Eli 
was  exhibiting  multiplied  inftances  of  the  fatal  ef- 
fefts  of  neglected  infancy  and  unrcfrraiiied  child- 
hood, the  fon  of  Elkanah  was  filentlv  demonftrating 
the  importance  of  early  culture,  and  modertly  reprov- 
ing grey  hairs,  by  exemplifying  the  lelfons  wdiicij 
his  pious  and  orudent  mother  had  taught  him.  The 
fclf-famc  ideas  are  here  employed  to  defcribe  the  early 
progrefs  of  Samuel  in  wifdom,  beauty,  and  goodnefs, 
which  are  afterwards  applied  to  Chrill  himfelf,.  at  a 
fimilar  period  of  his  earthly  exiftence,  and  they  fur- 
niih  us  with  many  excellent  additional  hints  refpecting 
the  important  fubje£t  of  education,  which  now  de- 
ferve  to  be  more  at  large  unfolded.  "The  child 
Samuel  grew  on,  and  was  in  favour  both  with  the 
Lord,  and  alfo  with  men  ;"  and  "  Jefus  increafed 
in  wifdom  and  ftature,  and  in  favour  with  God  and 
man." 

Obferve  here,  firft.  What  is  the  work  of  nature, 
namely,  to  grow  on,  to  "  increafe  in  ftature."  The 
moment,  O  man,  thy  child  begins  to  breathe,  a  prog- 
refs  commences  which  nothing  can  flop.  Grow  he 
will,  and  mud  ;  ceafe  from  all  folicitudc  on  this  fcore. 
Thefe  feeble  limbs  will  gather  flrength  ;  by  {tumbling 
and  faUing,  he  will  learn  to  walk  and  run  ;  after  flam- 
mering  for  a  while,  he  will  come  to  fpeak  plainly,  and 
he  who  feems  at  prefent  hardly  to  pcifefs  the  faculty  of 
fight,  will  foon  diftinguifii  obje£l  from  objccl:.  Ceafc 
from  the  vain  imagination   f^^  afTiflino;  or  improving 

nature. 


264  Hi/lory  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XXII. 

nature.  Affift  nature !  If  you  try  to  mend  that 
fhape,  truft  me,  you  will  fpoil  it.  Every  violent  at- 
tempt to  quicken  growth  will  but  retard  it,  and  an 
over-folicitude  to  prefer ve  health,  will  infallibly  fcatter 
the  feeds  of  diftemper.  Toward  the  improvement 
of  the  bodily  faculties,  the  mofl  anxious  and  intelli- 
gent parent  can  do  juft  nothing  at  all ;  "  by  taking 
thought  he  cannot  add  one  cubit  to  the  ftature  ;'*  it  is 
by  cultivating  the  mind,  only,  that  the  features,  Ihape 
and  perfon  can  be  improved. 

The  reverfe  of  this  is  the  pradice  of  the  world. 
The  whole  attention  is  diredled  to  perfonal  accom- 
plifhment.  Nature  is  cramped,  flretched,  diftorted, 
to  humour  an  abfurd  tafte  and  an  erroneous  judg- 
ment, and  fhe  avenges  herfelf  for  the  unwife  encroach- 
ment on  her  province,  by  encroaching,  in  her  turn, 
on  the  province  of  reafon  and  difcretion  ;  rendering 
all  their  late  efforts  ufelefs  and  unprofitable ;  making 
education,  which  is  clogged  with  fo  many  difficulties 
already,  abfolutely  impradicable.  What  can  the 
wifefl  mafter  do,  I  befeech  you,  with  a  temper  foured 
by  habits  of  unnatural  reflraint,  with  a  mind  rendered 
fickly  by  petty  attentions  to  punctilio,  with  a  fpirit 
fwallowed  up  in  a  fenfe  of  itsr  own  importance  ?  And 
yet  the  mafter  is  blamed  for  the  fault,  which  parents 
themfelves  have  committed.  Guard  your  child  as 
well  as  you  can  from  accidents.  See  that  his  food  be 
fimple  and  wholefome,  and  adminiftered  in  due  fea- 
fon  ;  let  his  body  be  free  and  unfettered ;  his  cloathing 
light  and  eafy ;  his  exercifes,  both  as  to  kind  and 
duration,  of  his  own  choofing  ;  and  he  will  grow  on, 
and  increafe  in  ftature,  he  will  acquire  vigour, 
will  preferve  fweetnefs  of  temper,  will  be  happy 
in  himfelf,  and  a  fource  of  happinefs  to  all  around 
him  ;  he  will  pafs  with  cheerfulnefs,  like  Samuel,  in- 
to the  hands  of  his  inftruftor,  without  any  prejudices, 
but  fuch  as  are  on  the  fide  of  goodnefs,  and,  through 
the  bleffing  of  Heaven,  will  day  by  day  fulfil  a  pa- 
rent's hope,  and  conftitute  a  parent's  joy. 

There 


Lect.  XXII.  Hijiory  of  Hannah.  265 

"^  There  is  a  fruiflefs,  perhaps  a  finful  anxiety,  of 
another  kind,  which  parents  fometinies  express,  and 
which  often  becomes  a  foarce  of  diftrefs  to  thcmfelvco, 
and  of  partiahty  and  injuftice  to  their  children.  I  mean 
the  fex  of  their  offspring.  The  expectation  of  pride, 
avarice,  ignorance,  or  caprice,  prefumes  to  ufurp  the 
prerogative  of  omnlfcience,  and,  in  the  event  of  dif- 
appointment,  cruelty  and  injulHce  to  an  innocent 
babe  are  fuperadded  to  impiety  toward  a  wife  and 
righteous  God.  It  is  dangerous,  as  well  as  criminal, 
to  affume  the  incommunicable  attributes  of  Deity. 
The  man  is  equally  unhappy  in  attaining  or  milling 
his  objeft,  if  he  purfue  it,  neglefting,  defying,  or  ac- 
cufmg  the  interpofition  of  Providence.  There  is  an 
inftance  of  goodnefs  in  the  divine  adminiflration 
which  is  too  generally  overlooked,  too  little  prized 
and  acknowledged  ;  namely,  the  perfeft  and  exaft 
conformation  of  children,  both  in  body  and  mind. 
Among  the  myriads  which  are  daily  born  into  the 
world,  how  rare  are  the  exceptions  from  the  general 
rule !  Every  one  bears  the  marks  of  fovereign  wif- 
dom,  is  the  produdion  of  omnipotence,  has  the  im- 
age of  God  impreifed  upon  him.  How  few  exceed 
or  fall  fhort  of  the  jufl  ftandard  in  refped  of  flature  ! 
How  few  are  born  deprived  of  the  ufe  of  reafon,  how 
few  deficient  or  redundant  in  their  bodily  organs ! 
And,  may  not  even  thefe  few  deviations  from  the 
general  rule,  thefe  a£ts  of  divine  fovereignty  in  the 
government  of  the  world,  ferve  in  a  future  economy, 
more  glorioully  to  iiluilrate  the  perfections  of  Him 
who  has  formed  all  things  to  the  honour  of  his  ov/n 
great  name. 

Is  thy  child,  O  man,  born  complete  in  all  his  mem- 
bers;  is  he  endued  with  the  ordinary  intelledtual 
powers,  is  he  like  the  children  of  thy  neighbour  ? 
How  much  art  thou  indebted  to  the  goodnefs  of  Heav- 
en !  Are  his  faculties,  corporeal  or  mental,  as  paren- 
tal partiality  is  frequently  difpofed  to  believe,  fuperior 
to  thofe  of  others  i  Remember,  it  is  a  great  addition 

to 


r6o  Hijhry  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XXIL 

to  thy  charge ;  fee  that  thou  mar  not  the  work  of 
God,  disfigure  not  that  fair  fabric,  pervert  not  talents 
peculiarly  precious  and  rare,  let  not  thy  glory  be 
turned  into  ihanie.  Has  Providence,  O  woman, 
wounded  thee  there  where  thy  fenfibility  is  grcateil, 
in  the  fruit  of  thy  womb  ?  Be  of  good  conifort,  he 
in  whom  thou  truftell,  on  whom  thou  haft  believed, 
faith,  "  Behold  I  make  all  things  new."  Then  "  the 
eye  of  the  bhnd  Ihall  be  opened,  and  the  ear- of  the 
deaf  unftopped,  then  the  lame  man  fliall  leap  as  an 
hart,  and  the  tongue  of  the  dumb  fing."  "  The  vile 
body  fhall  be  changed  and  fafhioned  like  to  Chrifl's 
glorious  body."  Then  the  foul  Vvhich  fcarcely  awoke 
to  reafon,  fhall  difcern  judgment,  and  the  wandering 
fpirit  lliall  be  brought  back  to  compofure  and  tranquil- 
lity. Young  man,  young  woman,  haft  thou  received 
from  the  bountiful  hand  of  nature,  a  found  mind  in 
a  found  and  well-proportioned  body  ?  Defile  not,  de- 
ilroy  not  that  fair  temple  ;  let  it  be  "  an  habitation 
of  God  through  the  Spirit ;"  let  the  image  of  the 
divine  inhabitant  faine  ferenely  on  that  forehead, 
beam  benevolence  from  that  eye,  diftil  in  accents  oi 
kindnefs  from  thofe  lips.  Force  not  upon  the  be- 
holder the  humihating  contraft  between  a  lovely  form 
and  a  hateful  difpofition  ;  be  all  of  a  piece. 

Obferve,  fecondly.  The  work  of  education,  the  in- 
fluence of  virtuous  habits  and  example.  Samuel  not 
oni)^  grew  on  but  grev/  gracious,  grew  in  favour. 
There  is  naturally  a  prejudice,  in  the  hrft  inftance,  in 
favour  of  youth  and  beauty,  independent  of  other 
qualities  ;  but  that  prejudice  quickly  dies  away, 
where  perfonal  comelinefs  is  unfupported  by  correl- 
ponding  goodnefs.  But  if  it  be  found  dii^figured  by 
A'icc,  not  only  is  the  favourable  imprellion  effaced,  but 
exchanged  for  a  counter  imprcflion  of  deteftation  and 
contempt.  As,  on  the  contrary,  the  prejudice  againft 
ordinary  looks  is  alfo  momentary,  when  we  find  them 
alhed  to  fenfe  and  talents,  piety  and  modefty  ;    and 

our 


Lect.  XXII.  Hi/iory  of  Hannah.  267 

our  efleem  and  veneration  of  the  chara(Stcr  arc  highly 
increafed  from  our  expeftinf^  lefs. 

Poor  indeed  is  that  virtue  v.hich  lives  only  in  the 
eflimation  of  the  world,  v/hich  aims  only  at  the  ap- 
probation and  praife  of  men  ;  but,  on  the  other  hand, 
true  virtue  v/ill  always  be  concerned  to  prcferve  rep- 
utation, will  ever  prefer  a  good  name  to  great  riches, 
and  ufiafiecledly  rejoice  in  the  efleem  of  the  Vv'ife  and 
good,  as  part  of  its  reward.  What  a  motive  was  it 
to  a  youth  like  Samuel  to  perfcvere  in  wjU  doing,  to 
<,^row  in  grace,  to  have  his  decency  of  behaviour,  hi;> 
filial  affeclion,  his  docility  and  fubmiilion  to  Eli,  his 
unaiTuming  piety,  his  grov;ing  wifdom,  his  expand- 
ing faculties,  obferved  and  coinmended  by  all  v/ho 
came  to  attend  the  fervice  of  the  tabernacle  !  This  is 
not  pride,  it  is  the  honed  confcioufnsfs  of  a  worthy 
mind,  loving  and  feeking  whzz  is  good,  not  for  the 
fake  of  fame,  but  its  own  ;  yet  rejoicing  in  fame  as 
one  of  the  fruits  of  goodnefs.  That  boy,  that  youth, 
that  man,  that  woman,  is  loil,  who  is,  or  v/ho  prc- 
feifes  to  be,  indifferent  about  the  opinion  cf  the  v/orld. 
The  love  of  reputation  is  one  cf  the  trees  of  nature's 
planting,  and  none  of  her  plants  are  eafily  rooted  up  ; 
it  often  furvives  the  hope  of  life  itfeif,  and  the  man 
difcovers  an  earnefl  concern  about  his  memory,  after 
he  has  refigned  his  head  to  the  executioner,  and  his 
body  to  the  grave. 

I  recommend  not  to  you,  my  young  friend,  that 
fervility  of  deportment,  that  favv'ningnefs  of  fubmif- 
fion  and  compliance  which  aims  at  the  applaufe  of 
every  one  alike,  which  is  continually  fearful  of  giving 
offence,  which  fhrinks  from  doing  good,  left  by  fome 
it  might  be  mifconilrued  ;  but  that  fieadineis  j^ud 
perfeverance  in  rectitude,  which  looks,  and  gees, 
Itraight  on,  which  neither  courts  nor  ffiuns  the  pub- 
lic eye,  which  can  rejoice  in  the  addition  of  the  praife 
of  men  to  the  teiliinony  of  a  good  confcience,  but 
trembles  to  think  of  purchafmg  the  one  with  the  Icfs 

ippens,  ill  this  cafe,  as 

it' 


268  Mijiory  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XXII. 

it  did  to  Solomon  in  another.  Young  men  who  pur- 
fue  virtue  on  its  own  account,  and  afk  wifdom  of  God 
in  the  firft  place,  certainly  obtain  what  they  feek  and 
pray  for,  and  they  alfo  obtain  what  they  neither  afl^ed 
nor  fought ;  the  love  of  their  fellow-creatures :  the 
favour  of  man,  comes  unfoHcited  to  him,  while  he 
was  purluing  a  much  higher  objeO:,  peace  with  God, 
and  peace  with  himfelf ;  v/hile  he  who  aimed  at  the 
inferior  object:  alone,  milfes  even  that  httle,  and  thus 
becomes  poor  indeed.  The  foundation  of  Samuel's 
future  eminence  and  ufefulnefs,  was  thus  laid  in  the 
early  and  tender  care  of  a  wife  and  pious  mother. 
The  youth  had  never  been  refpefted  in  the  temple, 
had  never  been  the  object  of  general  favour  abroad, 
had  the  child  learned  to  be  fro  ward,  petulant  or  peev- 
iih  in  his  father's  houfe.  O  woman,  would  you 
have  the  world  to  think  of  your  darhng  fon  as  you  do, 
put  yourfelf  betimes  in  the  place  of  an  unconcerned 
Ipedator,  view  him  as  an  entire  ftranger  would  do, 
and  let  difcretion  regulate  the  overflowings  of  your 
heart.  Ah,  had  Kannah  favoured  her  child  more, 
Ifrael  had  favoured  him  lefs !  How  ample  and  how 
fweet,  even  in  this  world,  are  the  rewards  of  felf-gov- 
ernment,  of  felf-denial,  of  moderation  !  Men  literally, 
in  many  inftances,  enjoy  what  they  rejed,  and  lofe 
what  they  gain.  He  who  lendeth  to  the  Lord,  lays 
out  his  property  on  the  befl  fecurity,  and  to  the 
greateft  advantage.  Samuel  is  infinitely  more  his 
mother's  at  Shiloh  than  at  Ramah  ;  his  worth  is  mul- 
tiplied in  proportion  as  it  is  communicated,  and  en- 
riches the  public  fund  without  impoverifhing  the 
private  Itock.  The  eyes  of  a  whole  people  are  already 
to  him,  the  expedation  of  man  keeps  pace  with  the 
deftination  of  Providence  ;  and  the  child,  miniftering 
in  a  iiifen  ephod,  becomes  more  gracious,  from  com- 
parifon  with  the  polluted  miniftrations  of  ungracious 
and  ungodly  men. 

Obfcrvc,  thirdly,  Youth's  highefl  praife^  the  moll 
glorious  rev/ard  of  goodnefs,  the  happieft  effect  of 

good 


Lect.  XXII.  Hiftory  of  Hannah.  269 

good  education,  Samuel  was  "  in  favour  with  God." 
To  obtain  this  moll  honourable  diftinttion,  much  more 
was  requifite  than  a  regular  and  modefl  deportment, 
much  more  than  promifmg  talents,  and  childifh  inno- 
cence, and  the  other  qualities  which  attrad  and  capti- 
vate the  eyes  of  men.  The  love  of  God  has  been,  be- 
times fhed  abroad  in  that  heart  ;  Hannah  has  been 
mindful  of  her  vow,  and  taught  her  fon  to  remember 
his  Creator  in  the  days  of  his  youth  ;  and  hov%^  grate- 
ful is  early  piety  to  Him  who  faith,  "  My  fen,  give 
me  thine  heart  V*  Lo,  God  has  impreiTed  his  own 
image  on  that  tender  mind,  and  fees,  and  loves,  and 
approves  his  own  work.  The  great  Jehovah  has  dc- 
figned  this  wonderful  child  for  high  things,  from  the 
very  womb,  has  raifed  him  up  to  be  the  "  rifmg  again 
of  many  in  Ifrael,^'  to  purify  a  polluted  church,  to 
fave  a  fmking  ftate,  and  is  fitting  him,  from  the  cra- 
dle, for  his  high  deflination. 

The  eye  of  the  Lord  obferves  with  delight  the  prog- 
refs  of  this  plant  of  renov/n.  He  is  haftening  his 
own  work  in  righteoufnefs,  is  ready" to  perfed:,  by 
heavenly  vifions,  the  inflrudions  of  a  pious  mother,  is 
preparing  to  crown  the  gracious  with  more  grace. 
The  favour  of  man  is  frequently  the  child  of  igno- 
rance or  caprice.  They  love  and  hate  they  know  not 
why.  Sometimes  they  hate  where  they  ought  to  love, 
and  love  where  they  ought  to  hate  ;  but  the  favour 
of  God  is  ever  founded  in  knowledcre,  is  undirected 
by  partial  affection  or  perfonal  regards,  is  the  refult 
of  reaion,  the  applaufe  which  perfect  wifdom  beitows. 
on  diltinguilhed  excellence.  Samuel  mufl  have  mer- 
ited praife,  elfe  this  praife  had  not  been  conferred  on 
him.  And  fmgular  muft  that  merit  have  been,  which 
could  unite  judgments  fo  different,  interefts  which  fo 
frequently  clafh.  He  who  makes  it  his  ftudy  to  pieafe 
man,  can  hardly  be  the  fervant  of  God ;  and  to  aim' 
at  pleahng  God  is  not  always  the  road  to  the  favour 
of  men.  Nothing  but  genuine,  unatfeded  goodiiefs 
could  have  procured  this  joint  approbation  of  God 

and 


170  liijiorj'  cf  Ihiinah.  LccT.  XXII.. 

and  man ;  and  there  is  a  charm  in  true  goodnefs, 
which  is  irrefillible.  It  may  be  overlooked  for  a  fea- 
fon,  it  may  be  borne  down,  it  may  be  obfcured,  it  may 
be  mifreprefented,  it  may  be  hated  and  oppbfed ;  but 
it  will  prevail  at  length,  will  force  itfelf  into  notice, 
will  ariie  and  Ihine,  will  command  refpecl,  filence  en- 
vy, triumph  over  oppofition  ;  rejoice  the  wife  and 
good,  and  keep  the  wicked  in  awe. 

What  mode  of  addrefs  fnall  I  employ,  to  engage, 
for  a  moment,  the  attention  of  young  ones  ;  and  to 
imprefs  upon  their  hearts  the  importance  of  my  fub- 
ject  ?  Would  to  God  I  could  again  become  a  little 
child,  that,  with  the  IclTons  of  experience,  I  might 
regulate  my  own  future  condud,  and  be  an  ufeful 
monitor  to  the  fnnple  and  inexperienced.  I  would 
in  that  cafe  fay.  My  little  friend,  God  and  nature 
have  made  you  lovely.  The  candour,  and  franknefs, 
and  benevolence  of  your  heart  iliine  upon  your  coun- 
tenance. Every  day  difclofes  fome  new  grace.  You 
are  inc^^afing  in  ftature  :  you  are  growing  in  favour 
with  ail  who  behold  you.  Every  one  thinks  well, 
fpeaks  v/eli,  hopes  well  of  you.  Grow  on.  Preferve 
that  amiable  fimplicity.  Let  it  be  the  charm  of  ad- 
vancing years,  of  expanding  faculties.  Let  that 
blooming  face  be  flill  raifed  to  Heaven  with  modefl 
confidence  ;  and  thofe  gracious  eyes  flill  beam  good- 
will to  men.  May  I  never  fee  that  open  forehead 
clouded  and  contraded.  What,  (hall  the  horrid 
traces  of  vice  disfigure  that  form  ?  Shall  every  one 
that  paHeth  by  be  conftrained  to  turn  away  with  loath- 
ing and  averfion  ?  Shall  the  mother  who  bare  thee, 
have  her  face  covered  with  a  blufh  when  thou  art 
named  ?  Muft  fhe  be  made  to  mourn  the  day  which 
was  once  her  joy?  Angels  will  behold  your  progrefs 
with  delight;  they  will  rejoice  in  miniflering  unto  you  : 
they  are  ready  to  receive  you  into  their  number,  when 
your  courfe  is  finifhed.  God  himfelf  regards  you 
with  fmiles  of  complacency  ;  he  is  ever  ready  to  ailift, 
to  counfel,  to  proteft,  to  receive  you.     Let  there  be 

joy 


Lect.  XXII.  Hilary  of  Hannah,  272 

joy  in  heaven  concerning  you.  Now,  now  is  the  fea- 
fon  for  lavintT  the  foundation  of  ufeful  life,  relbefta- 
ble  age,  comfortable  death. 

— But  what  do  I  fee  ?  That  youthful  face  already 
degraded  by  vice  i  fo  young,  and  fo  horrid  !  Unhap- 
py youth,  the  depravity  of  thy  heart  is  painted  on  thy 
forehead.  The  fight  of  thy  ov/n  countenance  fillcth 
thee  with  horror.  Shame  and  remorfe  are  preying 
on  the  marrov/  in  thy  bones.  In  the  hours  of  foh- 
tude  and  retirement,  Ifretched  on  thy  bed,  to  which 
fleep  is  a  (Iranger,  thou  art  conftrained  to  reflect  on 
the  v,^retchednefs  of  thy  condition  ;  thou  feeleft  thy- 
felf  unworthy  of  the  praifes  bellowed  upon  thee,  by 
the  partiality  of  thofe  who  know  thee  not ;  thou 
bluflieft  in  fjcret,  and  art  filled  with  indignation 
again  ft  thyfelf,  on  calling  to  remembrance  the  inno- 
cence and  fimplicity  of  happier  days,.  Thou  giveft  up 
thyfelf  as  loft.  No,  young  man,  do  not  abandon  thy- 
felf to  defpair  :  add  not  this  to  thy  offences ;  there  is 
help  for  thee,  let  it  re-animate  thy  courage.  Though 
"  caft  down,"  thou  art  "  not  deftroyed.'*  However 
debafed  that  face,  it  is  in  thy  power  to  amend,  to  en- 
noble it.  Thou  wert  not  deftined  always  to  remain  an 
innocent  child,  nor  couldeft  thou  :  by  ftumbling  and 
falling  thou  wert  to  be  inftrufted  how  to  walk  and  to 
run.  Wert  thou  wounded  and  bruifed  \  wert  thou 
plunged  into  the  abyfs  ?  there  in  an  arm  nigh  thee, 
which  is  able  to  raife  thee  up,  to  ftrengthen  and  to 
heal  thee.  Multitudes  like  thyfelf  have  been  recov- 
ered, reftored,  eftablifhed.  "  As  a  father  pitieth 
his  children,  fo  the  Lord"  will  have  mercy  upon  thee, 
and  forgive,  and  receive  thee.  The  impure,  the  pro- 
fane, the  blafphemer,  the  chief  of  finners,  have  repent- 
ed, have  returned,  have  found  favour  ;  and  there  i?. 
hope  alfo  concerning  thee.  Only,  for  the  Lord's  fake, 
and  for  thy  foul's  fake,  proceed  no  farther,  perfevere 
no  longer  in  an  evil  courfe.  One  ftep  forv/ard  may 
be  fatal ;  to-morrow  may  find  thee  in  the  place  where 
there   is  no   hope.     *'  Behold   ticxv  is  the  accepted 

time. 


272  Hi/iory  of  Hannah,  Lect.  XXIL 

time,  behold  nozu  is  the  day  of  falvation.'*  "  Seek 
the  Lord  while  he  may  be  found,  call  upon  him 
while  he  is  near."  "  The  wind  is  boifterous,"  the 
fca  rages,  thou  art  "  beginning  to  fmk,'*  t^ou  art 
ready  to  perifh  ;  but  ihalt  not,  whilfl  thou  art  able  to 
exclaim,  "  Lord  favc  me  :"  for  behold  "  a  very 
prefent  help  in  trouble  ;"  that  helping  hand  which 
liiatched  Peter  from  the  roaring  gulf.  "  And  imme- 
diately Jefus  Itretched  forth  his  hand,  and  caught  him, 
and  faid  unto  him,  Q  thou  of  little  faith,  wherefore 
didfl  thou  doubt?"* 

— I  conclude  wiih  calling  upon  parents,  and  guar- 
dians, and  inihruftors  of  youth,  ferioully  to  coniider 
the  importance  of  the  trufl'  committed  unto  them  ; 
and  to  diicharge  it  under  a  {i:\i^e  of  rr/ponhbility  to 
God,  to  their  pupils,  to  their  country.  The  hiLtory 
under  review  prelles  one  point  upon  you,  as  of  fmgu- 
lar  moment,  and  clofely  connected  with  every  article 
of  education  and  confequcnt  improvement ;  I  mean 
the  ftiidy  of  the  happy,  but  diflicult  medium,  between 
exccliive  indulgence,  and  oppreffive  feverity.  The 
fleady  firmnefs  of  Hannah,  the  mother  of  Samuel, 
furnilhes  an  ufeful  example.  If  ever  there  was  a  child 
in  danger  of  being  corrupted  by  indulgence,  it  was 
he.  But  no  fymptom  of  it  appears.  He  is  treated 
as  a  mere  ordinary  lad,  and  from  his  earheft  years, 
to  old  age,  evinces,  by  his  conduct,  the  excellence  of 
the  precepts,  and  the  Iteadinefs  of  the  difcipline  which 
formed  his  charader,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  his 
eminence.  He  leaves  home,  and  parts  with  his  par- 
ents, while  yet  a  child,  with  manly  fortitude.  Al- 
ready under  habits  of  fubmillion  to  parental  authority, 
he  cheerfully  transfers  that  fubmiHion  to  a  flranger, 
to  Eli.  Untainted  by  imaginary  terrors,  the  dark- 
nefs  of  the  night,  the  fclemnity  of  the  houfe  of  the 
Lord,  filence  and  foiitude,  and  ileep  diflurbed  by  ex- 
traordinary and  unfeafonable  voices,  excite  in  him  no 
filly  apprehenfion,  draw  from  him  no  childifh  com- 
plaint, 

*  Matt.  xiv.  31. 


Lect.  XXn.  Hiftory  of  Hannah,  275 

plaint,  deter  him  from  the  performance  of  no  duty. 
In  all  this  we  cannot  but  recognize  the  wifdom,  the 
conftancy,  the  fortitude  of  his  excellent  mother.  Had 
fhe  been  foolilhly  fond,  he  had  been  peevifti,  and  pet- 
ulant, and  timid,  and  difcontented.  Take  a  leilbn 
from  her,  ye  mothers  of  young  children.  If  you 
would  have  thefe  children  happy,  they  muft  betimes 
be  inured  to  fubjeftion,  to  privation,  to  reflraint. 
To  multiply  their  defires  by  unbounded  gratification, 
IS  the  fure  way  to  multiply  their  future  pains  and 
mortifications.  Reduce  their  wants  and  wiihes  to  the 
ftandard  of  nature,  and  you  proportionably  enlarge 
their  fphere  of  enjoyment.  Let  them  contraft  no  fear 
but  that  of  offending  God,  and  of  committing  fm. 
Let  them  learn  to  confider  all  places,  all  feafons,  all 
iituations  as  equal,  when  duty  calls.  Imprefs  on  their 
opening  minds  the  two  great  precepts  on  which  "  hang 
all  the  law  and  the  prophets,'*  to  love  the  Lord  their 
God,  and  their  fellow-creatures.  Lead  their  infant 
fteps  to  the  Friend  of  Httle  children,  to  the  Saviour 
of  mankind ;  to  the  knowledge,  the  belief,  the  love, 
the  hope,  the  confolations  of  the  gofpel,  and  thereby 
preferve  them  "  from  paths  wherein  deftroyers  go." 
The  profligate  charader  and  untimely  end  of  Eli's 
fons,  on  the  other  hand,  afford  a  folemn  admonition 
of  the  inevitably  ruinous  effefts  of  unbounded  indul- 
gence to  the  paffions  and  caprices  of  youth.  Had 
they  been  early  habituated  to  the  wholefome  reftraints 
of  piety,  decency  and  juflice,  they  could  not  have  be- 
come thus  criminal,  nor  would  have  perifhed  thus 
miferably.  In  the  exceffes  which  they  committed,  we 
clearly  fee  the  relaxed  government,  the  carelefs  in- 
fpedion,  the  unbounded  licentioufnefs  of  their  father's 
houfe.  Negleft,  in  this  cafe,  occafioned  the  mifchief. 
And  the  neglected  field  will  foon  be  over-run  with 
•noxious  weeds,  though  you  fow,  defignedly,  no  poi- 
fon  in  it.  Fathers,  fee  to  it  that  your  inftruclions  be 
found,  that  your  deportment  be  regular,  that  your 
difcipline  be  exact.  Account  nothing  unimportant 
that  affects  the  moral  and  religious  character  cf  vour 
Vol.  VI,  S  'fon. 


274  Hijiory  of  Hannah.  Lect.  XXII. 

fon.  Precept  will  go  fo  far,  example  will  go  farther  ; 
but  authority  mud  fupport  and  enforce  both  the  one 
and  the  other.  You  cannot,  indeed,  communicate 
the  fpirit  of  grace,  but  you  can  certainly  form  youth 
to  habits  of  decency  and  order  :  and  habitual  decency 
is  nearly  allied  to  virtue,  and  may  iniperccptibly  im- 
prove into  it.  Do  your  part,  and  then  you  may  with 
confidence  "  call  all  your  care"  on'  God. 

May  it  not  be  neceifary  to  throw  in  a  fhort  word 
of  caution  againfl  the  oppofite  extreme,-  that  of  excef- 
five  feverity  to  offending  youth  ?  This  indeed  is  not 
fo  common  as  corruptive  indulgence  ;  but  this  too 
cxifts.  Hov/  many  promifing  young  men  have  been 
forced  into  a  continuance  in  an  evil  courfe,  have  been 
driven  to  defperation,  have  become  "  hardened 
through  the  deceitfulnefs  of  fm,*'  becaufe  the  firft: 
deviation  could  find  no  mercy,  becaufe  a  father  arm- 
ed himfelf  with  inflexible,  unrelenting  fternnefs,  for  a 
ilighter  offence  ?  Alas,  how  many  amiable,  excellent, 
promifing  young  women  have  been  loft  to  God,  to 
their  families,  to  fociety  ;  have  been  dragged  into  the 
jaws  of  proftitution,  and  infamy,  and  difeafe,  and  pre- 
mature death,  becaufe  a  father's  door  v/as  (hut,  and  a 
mother's  heart  hardened  againft  the  penitent  ;  be- 
caufe her  native  refuge  was  no  refuge  to  the  mifera- 
ble  ?  She  returned  to  her  own,  but  her  own  received 
her  not.  Inftances,  however,  might  be  produced  of 
wifer  conduct,  and  happier  confequences  ;  of  mercy 
extended,  and  the  wanderer  reclaimed ;  of  human 
parents  v/orking  together  with  "  the  Father  of  mer- 
cies," and  fucceeding,  in  rekindling  the  facred  flame 
of  virtue,  in  reftoring  peace  to  the  troubled  breaft,  in 
recovering  the  fallen,  to  reputation,  to  piety,  to  com- 
fort, to  uiefulnefs.  So  long  as  God  "  waiteth  to  be 
gracious,"  furely  it  well  becomes  man  to  "  put  on 
bowels  of  mercies,  kindnefs,  mecknefs,  long-fuffering, 
forbearance,  forgivenefs,  and  charity,  v/hicli  is  the 
bond  of  perfeclnefs." 

Thus  have  I  fmifiied  what  I  propofed,  in  attempting 
to  delineate  the  female  chaxader,  by  inltanccs  taken 

from 


Lect.  XXIL  Hi/iory  of  Hannah.  ^y^ 

from  the  facred  record.  In  thefe,  and  in  the  cafe  of 
every  virtuous  woman,  we  fee  the  great  Creator's  de- 
fign  fully  juftified,  in  making  for  man  "  an  help-meet 
for  him/*  That  which  is  neceiTary  cannot  be  defpif- 
ed  ;  that  which  is  ufeful  ought  to  be  valued  ;  that 
which  is  excellent  commands  refpecl ;  that  which  is 
improveable  calls  for  cultivation.  Bad  men  only  re- 
vile and  undervalue  the  other  fex  :  the  weak  and  ig- 
norant idolize  and  worfliip  it.  The  man  of  fenfe  and 
virtue  confiders  woman  as  his  equal,  his  companion, 
his  friend,  and  treats  her  accordingly,  for  friendfhip 
excludes  equally  inve£live  and  flattery.  In  the  edu- 
cation and  treatment  of  females,  too  much  attention 
has,  perhaps,  been  paid  to  fex.  Why  fiiould  they  be 
forever  reminded  that  thev  are  females,  while  it  is 
of  fo  niuch  more  importance  to  imprefs  upon  their 
minds,  that  they  are  reafonahle  beings^  endowed  with 
human  faculties,  faculties  capable  of  perverfion  or  of 
improvement,  and  that  they  are  accountable  to  God 
for  them  ?  Wherefore  obilrud:  to  them  one  path  to 
ufeful  knowledge,  one  fource  of  rational  improvement, 
or  of  harmlefs  enjoyment  ?  If  they  are  defpifed  they 
will  become  defpicable.  Treated  either  as  flaves  or 
as  angels,  they  ceafe  to  be  companions.  Prize  them 
and  they  will  become  eftimable  ;  call  forth  their  in- 
tellectual powers  ;  and  the  empire  of  fcience  will  b^ 
extended  and  improved. 

And  let  them  learn  wherein  their  real  value,  im- 
portance, and  refpedability  confift.  Not  in  receiving 
homage,  but  in  meriting  approbation  ;  not  in  Ihin^ 
jng,  but  in  ufeful  employment ;  not  in  public  em- 
inence, but  in  domeftic  dignity  ;  in  acquiring  and 
maintaining  influence,  not  by  pretenfion,  vehemence 
or  trick,  which  are  eafily  {^^Vi  through,  and  always 
fail,  but  by  good  temper,  perfeverance  in  well-doing, 
and  the  practice  of  unfeigned  piety. 


THE      END^ 


'^ 
f 


